Mamata unwell after lorry hits a car in her convoy, advised rest

The Trinamool Congress leader, who experienced a jerk when her car suddenly braked, has been advised rest by doctors and will not be attending Parliament till further medical advice, Banerji's additional private secretary Ratan Mukherjee told reporters here.

"The Railway Minister is unwell and has been advised rest by doctors. She suffered chest pain after her car suddenly braked when another car in her convoy was hit by a lorry near Kolaghat last night," Mukherjee said.

Mamata, who was holding onto a handle in the front seat of her car, suffered a jerk as it suddenly braked after which she complained of chest pain, he said. Mukherjee alleged that the accident was an "attempt on her life" because of a serious security lapse which should be investigated.

He said doctors had done an x-ray and advised hospitalisation but she refused as her mother was ill. Trinamool Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay has demanded an inquiry into the accident.

Party General Secretary and Union Minister of state for Shipping Mukul Roy also made an identical demand. Mamata has advised her deputy ministers Ebrar Ahmed and Muniyappa to reply to listed questions in Parliament on August 12 and 13.

A bodyguard of the Railway Minister was injured when the lorry, coming from the opposite direction, hit his car. "The Railway minister was not in the vehicle which was knocked by the lorry, causing minor injuries to one of her bodyguards," East Midnapore Superintendent of Police Ashok Biswas told PTI last night.

The lorry driver was arrested. The movement of Mamata's convoy was halted for some time but she resumed here journey a little later, Biswas said.

Trinamool Congress legislator Firhad Hakim, accompanying Mamata in her vehicle, alleged that the lorry was dangerously approaching from the left side and knocked the vehicle carrying her bodyguards.

"Mamata Banerjee had a providential escape but was in a state of shock due to sudden jerk," Hakim said.