The Railway Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi, said today that he has a duty to get the Railway Budget presented by him yesterday passed in Parliament.
But he said that if the Trinamool Congress chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee, or the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, ask him to resign, he will do so.
Earlier in the day he attended Parliament, saying that it is his “duty” as a Minister but parried questions on his resignation.
A day after the Trinamool Congress supremo and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, demanded that he be removed, Mr Trivedi said he will be in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour as scheduled to reply to queries raised by members.
“I am going to Parliament as a Minister. I have come for Question Hour. I have to answer my questions. I am doing my duty, let me do that please” he told reporters at his residence and outside Parliament House before entering the Lok Sabha shortly before the commencement of Question Hour in the House. Mr Trivedi was seated in the front row in the Treasury Benches.
The Trinamool Congress leader declined to answer when asked whether he has resigned.
“Let’s see what happens. I have to go...,” he added.