New Delhi,
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and indicated he “offered” to resign while “owning full moral responsibility” for the two train accidents within a week, but that the PM had asked him to “wait”.

The Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday, leaving 23 dead. Even as the Railways cracked down on errant officials, the Kaifiyat Express derailed in UP’s Auraiya today, injuring 100. Later in the day, a train collided with a lorry at an unmanned crossing in Tamil Nadu, described as a “minor incident” by officials.

It was Prabhu himself who indicated about his resignation through a series of tweets. “I met the PM taking full moral responsibility.” But in the next tweet, he added that the PM had “asked him to wait”. Sources, however, said Modi asked the Minister to continue in the post.

Under pressure from the Opposition to resign following two train mishaps in less than a week, Prabhu turned emotional in a few tweets claiming he was “extremely pained” by the derailments.

“In less than three years as minister, I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the Railways. Under the PM’s leadership, tried to overcome decades of neglect through systemic reforms in all areas,” he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said: “Accountability is a good system in government. The PM will take a decision on whatever request the Minister has made.”