Kanpur train accident: PM Modi stooping very low to garner votes, says CPI

Alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi of politicising the Kanpur train accident, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday accused the former for stooping very low in order to garner votes.

"Why the Prime Minister is trying to raise this issue, politicise the issue at the time of elections? Just to garner votes. I think this is not a very acceptable position. The Prime Minister must carry on the campaign as a Prime Minister, speaking on real issues. The Prime Minister's campaign, nowadays, is stooping to the lowest level. The BJP is desperate to win the elections in Uttar Pradesh," CPI leader D. Raja told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiment, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) urged the government to act and give a stern message to the neighbouring country if it has any involvement in the incident.

"If it is a conspiracy, it should come out. If a neighbouring country has conspired against us then the Indian government should protest against it. What is the use of saying this in a public meeting? With the help of foreign ministry, protest should be launched and clear message should be given that India is not going to tolerate any such activity," NCP leader Tariq Anwar told ANI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday blamed conspirators sitting in Nepal for the November 2016 train derailment in Kanpur that claimed lives of 149 people.

"Kanpur rail accident in which hundreds were killed was a conspiracy and the conspirators carried it out sitting across the border (Nepal)," said the Prime Minister while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had in February confirmed that Dubai-based Shamshul Huda was the "mastermind" for the sabotage behind the Indore-Patna Express train accident in Kanpur on November 16, 2016.