Mixed reactions came here from the political parties over the Interim Railway budget presented by Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament on Tuesday. The State Congress has welcomed the budget and termed it as best in the interest of railway commuters while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) drubbed it as disappointing.
BJP State president and MP Narendra Singh Tomar in a statement here said, “The Interim Railway Budget presented today in the parliament is disappointing and seems to be Raebareli centric. Whatever provisions made in the Interim Railway Budget prepared in rush are mere lollipops.”
Tomar further said that the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of the centre very well knows that it would not return to power and whatever accountability for the provisions made in this budget are to be borne by the next Government.
He said that the centre continuing its tradition of partisan attitude with the State provided it institutional shape. Whatever rail facilities and new lines announced in the last budget are not seen any here at the end of the year. The partisan attitude adopted with Madhya Pradesh is condemnable, he added.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Arun Yadav while welcoming the interim railway budget said, “The interim railway budget is made in the comprehensive interest of the common railway commuters. On the one hand provisions of running new trains have been made in this budget while on the other hand provisions of adding about 65,000 additional coaches have been made in it.”
Yadav further said that the budget has adequate provisions of extension of railway facilities across the nation. The decision of the railway minister for not making any change in the existing fares is also a welcome step, he added.
He said that over the entire budget is in the best of interest of the country and the railways and by not increasing the fares the railway minister has provided big relief to the common man.