New Delhi, July 17
Mr Nitish Kumar, who had quit as Railway Minister following attack on him by his detractors in the Samata Party, withdrew his resignation today and resumed work at Rail Bhavan.

“I regret that I could not keep my emotions under control causing inconvenience to all,” he told mediapersons after returning to work.

The crisis in the Samata Party triggered by his resignation blew over last night after one of his detractors, Mr Prabhunath Singh, met him and patched up differences.

The Railway Minister said “I was hurt because of certain developments and after talking to everyone and the Samata Party President George Fernandes, I felt that taking into consideration the sentiments of everybody, I must return to work. That is why I have resumed my duties”.

Asked whether he had met the Prime Minister before resuming office, he said Mr Vajpayee had rejected his resignation on the very first day after he received it.

Since it was a party matter, “all of us sat together and resolved the issue”, he added.

He said Railway Union representatives, including those from the All-India Railwaymen Federation and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, had urged him to withdraw his resignation.