Lalu gives credit for good showing to Rly staff

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Attributing the turnaround in the Railways to the hard work of its 14 lakh employees and the utmost affection and support of the countrymen, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad toay likened the ''miracle'' to the mythological lifting of the Govardhan mountain by Lord Krishna.

''When faced with a crisis, Lord Krishna had lifted the Govardhan with his finger, he was called Girdhar. But the mountain was supported, in the process, by thousands of villagers with their lathis,'' Mr Prasad said as he began reading out his speech while presenting his fourth Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha.

''Even though the people are giving me credit for the turnaround in the Railways, I would like to tell the House in all humility that this miracle has been accomplished, thanks to the untiring efforts of the 14 lakh railway emloyees and the utmost affection and support of the counrymen,'' he said.

The Minister quoted four lines in support of his observation, saying ''Navajish hai sabki, karam hai sabhi ka, Bade fakhra se ham bulandi par aaye Tarakki ke sare mayaron se aage, Naye dhang laaye, sahee soch laaye.'' Mr Yadav again recited a couplet in support of his claim that by earning a historic surplus inspite of reduction in the passenger fare he had exploded the myth that the Railways were sinking into financial crisis due to social obligations. Our turnaround strategy based on a perfect blend of commercial wisdom and empathy for the people had made the Railways a centre of attraction for the world.

"Mana ki badi badi baaten karna hamen nahi aaya, Magar dil par badi karigari se naam likhte hain." UNI