White paper to bring out truth on my performance: Lalu

Press Trust of India / Patna July 4, 2009, 15:15 IST

Unfazed by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's declaration of coming out with a white paper on performance of Railways in past five years, her predecessor Lalu Prasad today said he was not worried over the move as it will bring out the "truth".     

Taking exception to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's statement that the white paper would expose his 'bazigari' (figure fudging to claim profits), he said it would in fact bring out the truth on his performance as railway minister.     

Kumar would have to apologise for making "unsavoury" remarks against me when the white paper report would be made public, Prasad told reporters.     

He charged the Bihar Chief Minister with not providing land for railway projects following which he had to enact a law that the railways would acquire land for its projects.     

Accusing Banerjee of neglecting Bihar in the budget, Prasad said he would meet Prime minister Manmohan Singh and Banerjee to ask them to enhance the budget for construction of new railway lines and other pending projects in the state.     

Trashing Banerjee's budget, he said it was a compilation of proposals made during his tenure and added that she had failed to pay dividend in her previous stint in Rail Bhawan.     

Banerjee while presenting the Railway Budget yesterday had declared that she will come out with a white paper on operational, organisational and financial situation and performance of Railways in the past five years when Prasad was at the helm.