UPA-II presiding over worst kind of corruption: Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu, Mar 15 (ANI): With the government plunging into an unprecedented crisis following the announcement of the Railway Budget, People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said the UPA-II is being seen as presiding over a system of corruption and that has taken the sheen away from their leadership.

So, every ally is trying to give priority to their own agenda, she added.

Mufti, however, praised West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, for writing to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, last night seeking the removal of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.

"Ms. Mamata Banerjee's agenda has always been pro-people, pro poor, and I think, she is trying to do what she has all the time being doing, and, I don't think you can blame her for trying to be, or show that she is pro-poor," said Mufti.

"I think the basic problem is that after having so many scandals, so many scams, somehow the UPA, the Congress specially, it has been seen as presiding over the worst kind of corruption in the country that has taken somehow the moral authority or the credibility away from this party," she added.

The demand for the sacking of Trivedi was in response to his decision to hike passenger fares without consulting Mamata Banerjee or the TMC leadership. The latter felt that the measure was an anti-poor step.

Trivedi has, however, said that no one had asked him to resign.

Trivedi had in his maiden Railway Budget proposed a hike of one paise per km for suburban and ordinary second-class travel. (ANI)