No State can fully curb train dacoity: Rabri Devi Friday, June 4 2004 14:14 Hrs (IST)
Patna:
Downplaying the recent spurt in dacoities in running trains after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) boss Laloo Prasad Yadav took over as Railway Minister, Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi said that no State could fully curb such incidents.
''When even two brothers pick quarrels, no Government can guarantee that such incidents would not occur,'' she told reporters in her official chamber in the State Assembly.
''It (train dacoities) was rampant when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government was in place. Crimes take place everywhere in the country,'' she said without naming Laloo's predecessor Nitish Kumar.
Indicating downsizing of her ministry sometime next month in accordance with the new law which restricts the strength of the Government to 15 per cent of the strength of the State Assembly, Rabri Devi said the Congress, a coalition partner in her ministry, would get its due share.
Under the new law, the State can have a 36-member council of ministers against the present 53, including the Chief Minister.
Referring to the displeasure voiced by some Congress leaders over the RJD ministers getting additional charges of portfolio held by some ministers who got elected to the Lok Sabha or resigned to contest on tickets of other parties, she said, ''We will look into the matter at an appropriate time. No injustice will be done.''
She expressed confidence that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government headed by Manmohan Singh would soon provide a special financial package to the State for alleviation of poverty and backwardness by accelerating the pace of development.