Kolkata, Sep 25: Undaunted by the rising criticism over their "unethical" continuation in various railway committees, pro-Trinamool Congress intellectuals Tuesday said they would continue to head the committees until new ones are formed.
The Trinamool Congress's exit from the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has put a question mark over the fate of committees constituted when the Trinamool Congress held the railways portfolio.
When Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined the UPA in 2009 and took charge of the railway ministry, she constituted some committees and inducted several intellectuals considered close to her in existing committees.
The committees were retained during the tenures of the next two railway ministers, Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy, who too were from the Trinamool Congress.
"These committees have a specific tenure. Now a new railway minister has taken charge. He will surely form new committees, so until and unless new committees are formed we are there in these committees. There is no question of stepping down as we are there to serve the nation," painter Shuvaprasanna, Banerjee's close aide, said.
Shuvaprasanna heads the Railways Passenger Amenities Committee, which has fellow painter Samir Aich, film directors Gautam Ghose and Haranath Chakrabarty and singer Pallab Kirtanya as members.
Theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty is a part of another committee.
"The railway ministry is a part of the union government. There is no logic in the demand of our resignations. If a specific party has formed such committees decides to withdraw support to the government, it doesn't means that these committees should be closed down," said Chakraborty.
Incidentally, both Chakraborty and Shuvaprasana gave these statements at the sidelines of a protest rally organised by pro-Trinamool Congress intellectuals to protest against the central government's decision to allow FDI in retail.
Congress MP Adhir Choudhury came down heavily on the double standards of the intellectuals.
"They are protesting against the government over retail FDI but are still continuing in the railway committees and are receiving all kinds of benefits. They have done nothing positive for the railways," he said.
Financial benefits attached with the posts include a monthly honorarium of Rs.10,000 to the head of the committee and Rs.8,000 per month to members.
Other perks include free travel, and food and lodging when members make official trips.
