Why is Suresh Prabhu not attending office? -Governance Now

Why is Suresh Prabhu not attending office?

Prabhu’s absence impacts functioning of the railway ministry

Vishwas Dass | September 1, 2017 | New Delhi

#Suresh Prabhu #Narendra Modi #railway ministry #Rail Bhavan #safety #Auraiya #Japan #Shinzo Abe #high speed train

Ever since the railway minister Suresh Prabhu offered to resign to prime minister Narendra Modi following two derailments in Uttar Pradesh, top officials at the Rail Bhavan appear to be in a quandary as he has stopped coming to office.

The ministry’s meetings and work have been put on hold until Prabhu joins the office as many crucial decisions need his approval.

General secretary, All India Railwaymen’s Federation, Shiv Gopal Mishra told Governance Now that no important work is being done by the ministry since Prabhu is not turning up at the Rail Bhavan.

“The cabinet reshuffle is likely and there is a possibility that the railways will get a new minister. Prabhu may be given some role to transform the railways,” Mishra said.

A cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place over the weekend.

Prabhu has not turned up at the ministry after he met the prime minister on August 23 after derailment of Kaifiyat Express in Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh and wanted to step down as the railway minister.

He is being missed at the Rail Bhavan as Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is coming to India to lay the foundation of Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed bullet train during which Modi would also be present on September 13.

Prabhu also remained absent when the railway ministry inked two agreements with Switzerland. Two pacts were signed in the course of the visit of President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard to India on August 31.

Apparently, Prabhu is trying to avoid the media.

“Issues related to passenger amenities, passenger grievances, station redevelopment, safety, routine operations and high speed train among many others are affected because of minister’s absence. We have to have the minister to take crucial decisions on a host of issues. The Rail Bhavan has apparently become a headless-ministry,” said an official.

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