Rail Budget plays to the gallery-Left

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) The Left parties today found the Rail Budget lacking in increasing new connectivity and augmenting the existing services and said it laid emphasis on privatisation.

They, however, complimented Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for sparing "fresh burden" on the people and for the surchage cut among other things.

They hailed Mr Yadav for his "courageous presentation" of the Budget proposals, but observed that he could have utilised the Rs 6000 crore profit in a much better way like constructing new rail lines, maintaining the existing ones and not allowing privatisation of certain railway services.

At a press conference, CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Party Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia, said the privatisation move was linked directly to the safety aspect.

"We will move amendments to some of these proposals," Mr Yechury said.

Mr Acharia, who is also the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways, demanded the scrapping of the Safety Surcharge, withdrawal of levy of Rs 20 from the passengers boarding the upgraded Superfast trains and laying of more thrust on public participation in the management of the Railways.

"As we have already suggested at least 70 per cent shares should remain with the Railways and 25 per cent with the PSUs to translate the concept of private and public partnership," Mr Acharia said adding that but the goverment wanted 49 per cent private and 51 per cent public participation.

CPI senior leader Gurudas Dasgupta said "the Rail Budget has played to the gallery." Forward Bloc national Secretary G Devrajan welcomed the Budget saying in the given situation, "this is a balanced budget, but the safety aspect has been ignored." UNI