Disappointed Lalu asks whether Trivedi consulted Mamata on Railway Budget

New Delhi, Mar 14 (ANI): Former Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday expressed disappointment with the Railway Budget presented by Dinesh Trivedi, and wanted to know whether theTrinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee was consulted before the presentation of the budget.

Asserting that the budget for 2012-2013 is going to burden the common man of the country, Yadav said: "The budget is suspiring. We are surprised whether Mamata Banerjee was consulted or not. This has burdened the people of the country in this time of inflation."

Yadav said the operating ratio has gone up to 95 percent, which means there have been a lot of spending and the output is zero.

"We saw the Railway Budget presented by the minister today. The operating ratio has gone up to 95 percent, which means there have been a lot of spending and the output is zero. So. I don't know whether the Railway Budget was prepared in consultation with Mamataji. I am surprised whether this budget has her consent," said Yadav.

"I would not like to criticize any minister, but the amounts that were read out by the minister. I would take for the example the fare of third-class ticket from Delhi to Patna has increased by Rs. 24; the cost of slipper ticket has been increased by Rs. 60," he added.

Yadav further said the Indian Railways is the lifeline of our country, and compared the railway budget presented by Trivedi with that of Jersey cattle, which is no more able to give high butterfat milk.

Recalling his days as the Railway Minister of the country, Yadav said the budget prepared by him was lauded throughout the country and abroad.

"The Railway Budget that was presented by me was lauded throughout the country and abroad. There was a surplus during my rule. We did not raise the fare, but kept on decreasing it. Despite that there was a surplus of Rs. 7,000 crore. Moreover, the respect for the employees of the Indian Railways had also risen in the society," said Yadav.

"Farmers, labourers, girls, women, milkmen, hawkers, we provided relief to all. We did not cause any inconvenience to the common man, the quality of food was increased, trains began to run on schedule," he added.

Yadav further said that his successor Mamata Banerjee had her own vision of the Indian Railways.

"When Mamata Banerjee took over, she had her won vision and she even introduced the 'white paper'. All our achievements were listed in the white paper," he added.

A White Paper indicating the Railway's organizational, operational and financial status based on its performance in the last five years was presented in Parliament during Banerjee's tenure. (ANI)