Notwithstanding the spate of accidents, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ruled out quitting his ministerial berth saying he will take up the 'challenge' of improving rail safety.
"The demand for my resignation from some quarters is based on flawed statistics. I am indeed concerned about the train accidents, but it is untrue that the mishaps have increased during my tenure," Kumar told a press conference at Patna railway station.
"When I resigned after the Gaisal tragedy, the opposition dubbed it as a political stunt and drama. Since my resignation will provide no solution to the problem, I have decided to continue (as minister) and do my best to ensure a safe journey to millions of passengers who travel by train every day," he said.Â
The Communist Party of India-Marxist had sought Kumar's resignation over the recent Golconda Express tragedy. At the other end of the political spectrum, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, in the latest issue of its mouthpiece, Panchjanya demanded that Kumar should either improve safety standards or quit.
Asserting that his ministry accorded top priority to passenger safety, Kumar said a string of measures had been taken for repair of old railway bridges, track renewal and improving the signaling systems.
The minister said he had convened a two-day national workshop on railway safety from July 11 in Delhi for a cross-section of ground staff like station masters, drivers, gangmen, pointmen, loco inspectors, signaling inspectors and workshop staff to know their views on improving safety standards.