LS members allege neglect of their states in Rail Budget

Members of Lok Sabha, including those from Congress, today alleged neglect of their home states in the Railway Budget and termed a number of proposals in it as impractical.

"I have thoroughly read the interim Budget presented by Lalu Prasad (in the previous government) and the one presented by current Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee. Both are UPA budgets," said BJP MP Gopinath Munde, while participating in the resumed debate on Railway Budget.

"When Lalu was the Railway Minister, it was all Bihar and when Mamata is the Railway Minister it is West Bengal. As the Railway Ministers change, the focus of budgets also change," he said.

He said Prasad's budget had kept the Lok Sabha elections in view while Banerjee's budget has kept the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls in mind. "In the process, injustice has been done to Maharashtra," Munde alleged.

Taking a dig at eight ministers at the Centre from Maharashtra, particularly NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the BJP leader said "if they are happy (with the situation), then I have no problem."

He, however, reminded them that Maharashtra is also going to polls.      

Munde referred to Pawar and said he should insist on focus to Maharashtra in Railways or withdraw support. "But he will not do so," he added sarcastically.