Rabri terms Railway budget as ''historic''

Patna, Feb 26 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly today described the Railway budget as ''historic'', saying Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had taken care of the interests of all sections.

Ms Rabri Devi, also former Bihar Chief Minister, said the announcement of Mr Prasad for recruitment of the licence porters as ''gangmen'' and in other fourth grade posts in the railways was in accordance with his ideology of 'social justice'.

'' By reducing the fares of all categories and also the freight charge, Mr Prasad has created history, '' she remarked saying he had gifted ''new trains'' to Bihar besides doing justice to all parts of the country.

'' Railways was running into loss when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was Railway Minister during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime, but it took a turnaround after Mr Prasad became the Railway Minister, '' she said.

Mr Kumar was also pushing Bihar into ''vicious circle'' of ''debt'' by taking loans from foreign financial institutions, while he had failed to utlise the funds given by the Centre for execution of various welfare and development projects in the state, she alleged.

UNI KKS SJC DB1823