Basic structure of Railways has been shaken up: Dinesh Trivedi
Trivedi made comments in several news channels minutes after Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu offered to resign in the wake of the recent railway accidents.
In a series of tweets, Prabhu offered to step down as the railway minister but said Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to wait.
Trivedi, who was earlier forced to resign by his party Trinamool Congress for hiking passenger fee marginally, said the accidents could have been avoided.
The former railway minister held the shift in priorities of the government from basic necessities to "cosmetic" needs like wifi availability as the main reason behind the recent accidents.
However, Trivedi, who is still a TMC MP, refused to make any comment on Prabhu's decision of quitting. "I do not want to comment. He is a wise man."
In a series of follow-up tweets, Prabhu said, "In less than three years as Minister, I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the Railways."
"Undr leadership of PM, tried 2 overcome decades of neglect thru systemic reforms in all areas leading 2 unprecedented investment& milestones."
"New India envisioned by PM deserves a Rlys which is efficient and modern. I promise that is the path, on which Rlys is progressing now."
"I am extremely pained by the unfortunate accidents, injuries to passengers and loss of precious lives. It has caused me deep anguish."
"I met the Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi taking full moral responsibility. Hon’ble PM has asked me to wait."
Earlier on Wednesday, media reported that Railway Board Chairman A K Mittal has tendered his resignation following two train derailments within a week in Uttar Pradesh but Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has not accepted the resignation yet.
On Wednesday morning, eight coaches of Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express derailed near Auraiya district, following which around 74 people were injured.
On Saturday, 23 passengers died and over 60 sustained injuries when 14 coaches of the Utkal Express, which runs on the Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga route, derailed at Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.
Image: File.
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