Not afraid to resign, fare hike done with clear conscience and in national interest: Trivedi

New Delhi, Mar.14 (ANI): Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday said his budget proposals for fiscal 2012-13 were announced with a clear conscience and in the national interest.

In an interview to NDTV after he had presented the Railway Budget in parliament, Trivedi said that while there was expected objection to the hike in passenger fares, especially from his Trinamool Congress party, he would try to convince party leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the need to hike fares to improve railway infrastructure facilities.

Trivedi said he was not at all upset with the mixed reaction to his railway budget. In fact, he said that he was very happy with his budget

"MPs across party lines have congratulated me. The general feeling is that this is a very good budget. I have done my duty to the best of my ability. You can't put on a brave face if you are not brave. Country comes first for me, then family and the rest," said Trivedi.

Taking an indirect dig at Trinamool Congress leaders like Derek O'Brien for his objection to the passenger fare hike, Trivedi said: "Whether A and B has tweeted, that's not my concern.Where is the money for safety? I don't want to compromise on safety."

When asked whether he or ministry would consider a fare rollback, Trivedi said: "Parliament is in session. Cannot make any comments which will relate to policy decision."

Referring specifically to reports that Mamata Banerjee was angry about not being consulted over the fare hike, he said: " To be fair to Mamata Banerjee, she has never interfered with my work. And I respect her for that."

He also said that he did not consult his party about railway budget.

"I don't need to consult anybody. It is left to Railways Minister to decide what needs to be done. I have no clue, don't know why party has reacted in this way am not here to keep my chair at any cost...no. I don't care about my job," Trivedi said.

He said as in most things in life, his job as a Railway Minister was not permanent.

"If my leader tells me to resign, I will do so. After all, she has put me here. You can be good friends and also differ. I can respect Mamata and also differ with her.

I am absolutely a free bird today...if I had not done my duty, I would feel guilt. Will leave it to people to decide what is right or wrong. This is a democracy," trivedi said. (ANI)