Striking unexpected chords on the Railway Budget while the Opposition Samajwadi Party on Thursday praised the Railway Budget and credited Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu for presenting a non-populist Budget, the BJP’s ally Shiv Sena roundly disapproved of it.
SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav was literally mulayam (soft) on the Railway Budget for its lack of populism like announcement of new trains and lauded Prabhu for focusing on fulfilling projects unveiled in past Budgets.
“This is a good job. He (Prabhu) has not announced new schemes and promised that he will focus on executing past measures. If he succeeds in doing so, it will be a huge accomplishment,” Yadav told reporters outside Parliament.
In contrast, the NDA constituent Shiv Sena claimed that the Budget lacked clarity on how the money will come for the various projects. “We are completely dissatisfied with the Budget. They have said so many things in the Budget. But from where will the money comeIJ”
Senior Shiv Sena leader and North-West Mumbai MP Gajanan Kirtikar said, adding the Budget has kept everyone in “dark”. Shiv Sena has been taking a stance against BJP on several issues, including the land Acquisition Bill, reflecting the unease in ties. Prabhu had quit Sena to join BJP before his induction in the Narenda Modi Cabinet.
“He (railway minister) is talking about raising the height of platforms which requires Rs 97 crore. One has to allot money for these projects at one go if they have to be completed. They are talking about tripling and doubling lines, but which lines will they undertake work on. They have kept us in dark,” Kirtikar said. Taking a jibe, Chandrakant Khaire, Shiv Sena MP from Aurangabad, said “the budget is good but difficult to understand”.