Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Offers To Resign

Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has offered his resignation to the prime minister, taking moral responsibility for the two train derailments in a span of four days. Prabhu, taking responsibility for Kaifiyat Express derailment and Puri-Utkal Express derailment, announced his resignation on Twitter.

“Extremely pained by unfortunate accidents, injuries to passengers and loss of precious lives. It has caused me deep anguish,” he said, in a series of tweets. “In less than three years as Minister, I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the Railways,” Prabhu said.


“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, tried to overcome decades of neglect thru systemic reforms in all areas leading two unprecedented investment and milestones, (sic)” said another post by Prabhu. He also wrote, “New India envisioned by Prime Minister deserves a Railway which is efficient and modern. I promise that is the path, on which Railway is progressing now. (sic)” 

However, Prabhu is not the first minister resign over train mishaps. Earlier, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Mamata Banerjee, and Nitish Kumar have also resigned taking moral responsibility for the accidents. 

Lal Bahadur Shastri who served as Minister of Railways from 13 May, 1952 to 7 December 1956, had quit his post taking moral responsibility for the Ariyalur train accident in Tamil Nadu. The accident, which took place in November 1956, had left 142 people dead. Shastri was hailed as the man of highest integrity by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Later, he went on to succeed Nehru as the second prime minister of India. 

Nitish Kumar the current Chief Minister of Bihar and chief of Janata Dal United, Nitish Kumar, was the second leader to resign as the minister of Railways owing responsibility for the Gaisal train disaster in Assam in August 1999 that had killed at least 290 people. Nitish, then part of Samata Party, served as Railway Minister from 19 March 1998 to 5 August 1999. 

Mamata Banerjee the current Chief Minister of West Bengal and chief of Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee, quit her post on moral grounds after two train disasters in 2000. However, Banerjee’s resignation was rejected by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

More For You

UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Diwali

This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)

Major changes announced for Leicester’s Diwali celebrations amid safety fears

LDRS

THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.

Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Corbyn- Zarah Sultana

Zarah Sultana with Jeremy Corbyn during a protest outside Downing Street demanding the UK government to stop all arms sales to Israel. (Photo: X/@zarahsultana)

X/@zarahsultana

Zarah Sultana leaves Labour, plans new party with Corbyn and independents

FORMER Labour MP Zarah Sultana has announced her resignation from the party and plans to launch a new political party alongside ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other independent MPs and activists.

Sultana, who represents Coventry South, lost the Labour whip last year for supporting the removal of the two-child benefit cap.

Keep ReadingShow less