Opposition slams Rail Budget

Opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI, today slammed the Rail Budget terming it a mockery while the Congress said the budget is futuristic and reflects the concerns of the 'Aam Admi'.

"Railway budget was a mockery. Railway Minister has converted the entire exercise into a comic opera. It's a sad day for railway users and commuters. This budget has only Bengal and all others are left 'Kangal' (poor)," senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar told reporters outside Parliament after its presentation.

He alleged the budget had "nothing" and even those plans which were yet to get the Planning Commission's nod have been been announced in the budget.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta described the budget as "an exercise of utter madness" and alleged there was politics in the budget, which was also over-ambitious and unrealistic.

"The budget has been made with a political bias keeping in mind the upcoming West Bengal elections. This is not the way Railway Minister of the country should present the Rail Budget," Dasgupta said. His colleague D Raja also found "political intentions" behind the budget and doubted whether the promise of starting so many new trains could be fulfilled.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, however, strongly backed Mamata Banerjee's budget saying the budget was futuristic and a balancing act between immediate needs and long term plans.

Tewari also welcomed non-increase of passenger fares, saying, "From 'Aam Admi's' point of view there is no increase in passenger fare, which is most significant. It's the second budget in the UPA, without any increase in passenger fare."