I would do the same if asked to present budget again: Trivedi

A day after proposing fare hike in the Rail Budget which has threatened his job, a defiant Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi today said he would repeat the same if asked to present the budget again.

Trivedi, whose sacking has been demanded by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, also said neither has he been contacted by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee nor he has spoken to her yet.

"I would do the same if I am asked to present the budget again," Trivedi told reporters here.

Trivedi has in his budget proposed up to 20% passenger fare hike in the Rail Budget for 2012-13, inviting the wrath of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee who has written Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sack him.

When it was pointed out that the fare hike proposals were contrary to his party's policy, he said "I have done it for the Railways and the country...Not for party. If I have to please my party, then I am not doing my work."

On the possibility of fare hike rollback, Trivedi said "the budget is in Parliament and I will be guided by Parliament. Parliament will be guided by the wisodom of people."

Referring to Lokpal, he said "why Lokpal has come? Because of the wisdom of the people. If Parliament tells me to cut down, then I will say okay I am cutting down on safety. But then do not blame me if something happens on safety."