Will replace Trivedi if needed: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said the government will consider replacing Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi if the situation demands.

“Well, if anything like this develops, we will consider it,” Manmohan Singh told reporters in parliament when asked whether he would consider replacing Trivedi following demands by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to remove him for hiking rail fare.

Trivedi’s maiden rail budget Wednesday proposed a fare hike after 10 years.

Angry with the hike, his party chief Banerjee urged the prime minister Wednesday night to replace Trivedi with another party leader, Mukul Roy.