Camel ride for Mamata?

That would be her only option in Bikaner, says a renowned cartoonist, as the place has been ignored by Indian Railways

"I am just a human being. I cannot satisfy everyone," said Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee while presenting her second rail budget on Wednesday.


Cartoonists are trying to draw attention to the poor rail connectivity
between Delhi and Bikaner.

While the minister was trying to pacify agitated members in Parliament, who were demanding more trains and facilities for their regions, it appears some outside the House are also not happy with her promises.
Renowned cartoonist Sudhir Tailang is one of them.

Reason? Well, there are only two trains running between Delhi and Bikaner, Tailang's native place, for the last 50 years.

"Bikaner is a politically orphaned city with a peaceful populace. For the past five years gauge conversion work has been going on at a snail's pace and with no hope of it being completed in the near future. And hence, no chances of trains to get back on tracks," Tailang told MiD DAY.

To bring into focus his grievances, the noted cartoonist launched "Friends of Bikaner" and backing him is a group of cartoonists from Bikaner in the national capital.

The group has started a unique protest campaign and put up five cartoon hoardings at five different locations, Chiragh Delhi, ITO, Ashoka Road, Nehru Stadium and Defence Colony in the city.

In one of the cartoons that depict the Rail Minister riding a camel, a character asks her: "Mamata Didi, rail mantri ho kar camel ki sawari? Kahan jaa rahi ho" (Mamata Didi you are the railways minister, then why are you riding a camel? Where are you headed to?)

The minister replies: "Bikaner jaa rahi hoon, bhai. Kya karoon Delhi-Bikaner ke beech ek bhi train nahi hai?" (What to do there is no train between Delhi and Bikaner?)

The group is demanding fast completion of gauge conversion and immediate resumption of the direct trains between Delhi and Bikaner. "Cartooning is an art of protest. It's the most authentic voice of dissent. But a hoarding to send a message across is being done for the first time. I think it will work."

Kunal Lalani, another cartoonist and a member of the group, who managed and organised the campaign, said: "I trust the power of the cartoon. Hope, the innovative way of our protest will bring about the desired change."