Can’t read Mamata's mind: Dinesh Trivedi

Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi on Saturday remained tight-lipped about the developments between him and Mamata Banerjee over the railway budget, saying he was poor at reading his party boss’s mind.

Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi on Saturday remained tight-lipped about the developments between him and Mamata Banerjee over the railway budget, saying he was poor at reading his party boss’s mind.

Dinesh-Trivedi-arrives-to-present-the-annual-budget-for-the-country-s-railway-system-at-the-parliament-in-New-Delhi-The-government-will-unveil-the-budget-for-the-Indian-Railways-on-Wednesday-REUTERS-B-Mathur

“I can’t answer what Banerjee knew or did not. I took an oath of secrecy. I stuck by it. I am not good at reading her mind,” he said.

Asked if the Prime Minister would be right in removing him — as demanded by the Trinamool Congress chief — Trivedi said: “It’s difficult for the PM to take a call on my continuance. I am not on trial, the system is.”

Many of his party colleagues have called Trivedi a traitor, but the minister maintained he had only worked in the interest of the country. “I am glad I am not called a terrorist,” he said.

Defending his decision to hike passenger fares, he said: “If the Railways isn’t the growth engine, India won’t grow. If it’s healthy... Warren Buffet will invest in it.”