'My sacking was a pre-planned decision of TMC', says Trivedi

New Delhi, Mar 20 (ANI): Former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Tuesday said the decision to sack him was a pre-planned decision taken by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and had nothing to do with the fare hike.

In an exclusive interview to Times Now, Trivedi said Mamata Banerjee was aware of the decision even before he presented his budget.

"I did not want to embarrass the government. So, I decided to quit," he said.

Trivedi also justified the decision to hike the fares.

"I presented the budget keeping in mind the masses. When a railway minister prepares a budget, it shouldn't be party oriented or region oriented. I thought of the nation," he said.

Trivedi was forced out as the Railway Minister by his own party, the Trinamool Congress, after he incurred the wrath of Banerjee who was opposed to his proposal to increase fares in the railway budget.

Trivedi, who resigned on Sunday, had, however, been lauded by the Prime Minister, Cabinet colleagues and industry for his bold budget, in which he announced an increase in train passenger fares, the first in nine years.

Another TMC leader Mukul Roy was today elevated to the cabinet rank to take over as Railway Minister replacing Trivedi. (ANI)