Video: Trinamool MP threatens railway officials for confronting ‘ticketless’ employees – News from West Bengal

A Trinamool Congress politician came under heavy criticism after he was caught on video threatening a railway official for questioning the validity of tickets of two other passengers travelling with the MP.

Kanai Chandra Mondal, the MP from Nabagram, was travelling from Malda to Howrah in the UP Intercity Express on Tuesday when the incident occurred.

According to a letter from ticket inspector Achintya Saha to the Divisional Commercial Manager of Eastern Railways, the two affected passengers of the MP had boarded the train at Khagraghat Road station. Only one of them had a confirmed ticket.

“When I asked for their tickets, one of them (passengers) told me that he was the MP of Nabagram and refused to pay the fees in favour of the unauthorized passengers,” Saha said, adding that he immediately informed the control room in Malda about the situation.

He said the passengers continued to verbally abuse him and the MP threatened that “his people would meet me” at the next stop.

There were also death threats against him. Mondal's supporters told him they would “kill him within two days”.

After some time, one of the passengers agreed to pay to upgrade his ticket and another got off at the next stop, the conductor added in his letter.

Saha also noticed that seat number 18 was booked in Mondal's name, but seat number 19 which was booked in the name of Archana Mondal was occupied by a person named Subarna Das Roy.

According to sources, the Railway Ministry has taken note of Saha's letter and will direct the Governor and Speaker of West Bengal to take action against Kanai Chandra Mondal.

Amid the chaos, other travelers came to support the ticket inspector, telling the MP that he could not abuse his power just because he held public office.

West Bengal BJP leader Agnimitra Paul also shared the video of the incident on social media.

She condemned the Trinamool Congress MP for threatening the ticket inspector and tweeted that the “incident is a clear example of the arrogance displayed by some TMC leaders who think they can bend the law to their will.”

“The passengers' courageous stand against the MLA's threats sent a strong message: people will not tolerate such behaviour and those who believe they can use their political influence to evade responsibility are completely wrong.”

“It is time for the TMC to take a critical look in the mirror and realise that respect for the rules and the people it serves should be its top priority, not its own interests and entitlements,” she added.