This budget will not pass

During the discussions on the Interim Railway Budget last week, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee missed out that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s reply included a train service from his constituency. After Prasad finished his reply, Chatterjee quipped, “You are giving trains to others but nothing for the Speaker. Your Budget will not be passed.” Prasad gave an assurance that he had announced a train to Chatterjee’s constituency and later even went to the Speaker’s chamber to show him the written speech. Prasad was also fumbling while proposing different parts of the budget for passing. Every now and then, he had to be helped by other ministers. This prompted Chatterjee to say, “At least the trains should not run like this.”