Arun Jaitley hints at Railways Minister's resignation; says PM Modi will decide

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday hinted over Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu's resignation stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a decision on "whatever request" the latter has made.

While addressing a press briefing, Arun Jaitley said, "Accountability is a good system in the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a decision on whatever request the railway minister has made."

After two train derailments in five days, the Railway Minister, earlier in the day, met Prime Minister Modi and tweeted that he had taken full moral responsibility over the situation hinting that he had offered to quit. Later, Prime Minister Modi, he said, asked him to 'wait'.

"I met the Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi taking full moral responsibility. Hon'ble PM has asked me to wait," he tweeted.

He further tweeted, "In less than three years as Minister, I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the Railways".

Prabhu's tweets came hours after Railway Board chairman A.K. Mittal resigned, citing 'personal reasons'.

Earlier in wee hours of the day, 10 coaches of Kaifiyat Express heading towards Delhi derailed after colliding with a dumper near the Auraiya district in Uttar Pradesh and over 20 people have been injured.

On August 19, more than 20 died and over 200 were injured after 13 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express ran off the tracks in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district.