Left asks PM to resolve ongoing row over Trivedi's resignation

New Delhi, Mar 17 (ANI): With Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi asking Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to convey the party's decision in writing over a decision to down from his post, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday described it as an unprecedented mess in the history of parliamentary democracy.

He said the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, should take a call and resolve the issue.

"Well, this is an unprecedented mess in history of our parliamentary democracy. We have never heard or seen anything like this in the past. So, it's up to them to decide how they want to handle it, it's up to the concerned party and the leader of this in coalition, the Congress, and the Prime Minister. They have to take a call and decide how to resolve this issue," said Yechury.

"But the fact remains that the Railway Budget has been presented to Parliament. It is now the property of the Parliament, nothing can be done to the Railway Budget except by Parliament. So, that is something which is invariable in parliamentary democracy and the rules by which it functions," he added.

Trivedi, who is in the eye of a storm of his own party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), ever since he presented the Railway Budget for 2012-13, has been asked to step down from his post, but he insists that Mamata Banerjee should issue the demand in writing.

Trinamool Congress Chief Whip Kalyan Banerjee, who had a telephonic conversation with Trivedi earlier, asked him to resign from the Railway Minister's post and make a gracious exit and not wait to be sacked. rivedi had earlier on Friday refused to comment on the condemnation resolution moved by the TMC against him, saying he had no idea about it.

Trivedi, however, said he had immense faith in the people of the country, who appreciated him for his outstanding commitment.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had earlier demanded that Trivedi be sacked for snapping an eight-year populist trend to not raise passenger train fares.

She demanded that another TMC leader Mukul Roy, who is presently the Minister of State for Shipping, be appointed as the Railway Minister. (ANI)