Delayed Mamata refuses special train

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 9: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee does not spare any oppurtunity to live up to her down to earth image which is why ...

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 9: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee does not spare any oppurtunity to live up to her down to earth image which is why she spurned offer of top officials of her ministry to arrange a special train for her when she was left stranded at Jaipur last night.

Mamata was on 8 pm Jet Airways flight from Calcutta to New Delhi on Tuesday which was delayed by one hour. On reaching Delhi at 11 pm the flight hovered over the airport for five minutes before being diverted to Jaipur.

The Jet Airways officials at Jaipur took all passengers to a hotel for their onward journey by the morning flight. But Mamata insisted on going to the railway station.

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The weary railway master was stunned to find the Railway Minister staring in his face at 2.30 in the morning. He offered to take her to a plush waiting room before arranging for a special train from Delhi to take her back to the Capital. But, she turned down both proposals. Instead she inspected the entire station and took officials to task for its shoddymaintenance.

Mamata not only decided to stay in the ordinary waiting room but also travel by a regular train, Ashram Express arriving Jaipur at 4.30 am.