Lalu not averse to becoming PM

New Delhi, Dec 27: Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal powerhouse Lalu Prasad is not averse to the idea of becoming the Prime Minister of the country, but says he has kept it ''pending.'' Mr Prasad divulged this while addressing a group of 137 students from Harvard and Wharton Business Schools at the National Rail Museum here today.

The question about his prime ministerial ambition was asked by a Pakistani student studying at Harvard.

''I have kept the issue pending. I am not very old, only my hair had greyed, so when the time comes, I will decide. But there is no point in quibbling over the issue right now.'' When asked by another student whether the Indian Railways would continue to sustain its momentum and growth impulses when he wont be the minister, Mr Prasad said he has given a steel frame to the railways and irrespective of the change in the minister or the government, the growth story will continue.

Nobody will be able to tinker or tamper with the steel frame of the Railways which he has given to the government's biggest department which was tethering on the brink of a financial collapse some years ago.

Talking to reporters the minister said he was very happy with the success story of the railways which was making ripples in top grade business schools all over the world.

''The students and their teachers are greatly impressed by the turnaround of the railways and if any one of them wants internship and training in the functioning of our railways we will provide all facilities,'' he added.

One Japanese student at Harvard said he was tremendously impressed by Mr Prasad whose turnaround of the railways is ''real and not phoney.'' He personaly liked the minister for his witticism, charm, honesty and dedication.

'' Some years ago, Japanese Railway had also been incurring massive losses but it made a turnaround after being privatised, but Mr Prasad has done it without corporatising the railways,'' he added.

UNI