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Rail budget eyes polls, says BJP; Congress calls it developmental
Friday, 13 February 2009, 21:57 IST
New Delhi: The ruling Congress party Friday hailed the interim rail budget presented by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad as "developmental" and "pro-people" while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was meant to lure voters in the upcoming general elections.
"We welcome the rail budget. It's a developmental and pro-people rail budget. For this the credit goes to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad told IANS.
"Never in the past have fares been cut down continuously for five years and Indian railways made profits for five years."
On the decline in freight due to the economic downturn, Ahmad said: "Though there has been a decline, compared to the international scenario the adverse effects of the economic slowdown in India and on our railways has been less. We hope to fight it back soon," Ahmad said.
The opposition BJP, however, said the budget was unrealistic and was presented with the April-May general elections in mind.
"It (rail budget) is far from ground realities and close to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections reality," BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told IANS.
"By reducing fares nominally, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has tried to lure voters," he added.
The rail budget presented Friday in parliament includes a two percent reduction in fares for virtually all classes.
The budget also highlighted that the railways will create a record surplus of 
900 billion (90,000 crore) this fiscal and that the sector saw a 14 percent rise in passenger income.
It also pointed out that in the past five years, no burden has been imposed on train passengers and that there has been a drop in train accidents, reflecting enhanced safety measures.
Source: IANS
900 billion (90,000 crore) this fiscal and that the sector saw a 14 percent rise in passenger income.
It also pointed out that in the past five years, no burden has been imposed on train passengers and that there has been a drop in train accidents, reflecting enhanced safety measures.
Source: IANS