Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Minister for Railways DV Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday presented the rail budget in Lok Sabha, promising to serve the social obligations of the ministry.
Sparing passengers of any further fare hike, Railway Budget for 2014-15 proposes to attract private domestic and FDI in infrastructure projects and pursuing private-public partnership to boost the finances of the cash-strapped railways. Here are some of the reactions:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Calling the railways an engine of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the railway budget had its focus on transparency and passenger safety.
The Rs 149,176 crore budget presented in the Lok Sabha focussed on "transparency and integrity" as well as the safety needs of commuters, Modi said in remarks later.
The budget "keeps in mind the development of India. We can see the great use of technology also", he said.
Also Read: PM Modi hails Railway Budget 2014-15, says it focuses on safety, transparency
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that this Rail Budget will put the Indian Railways back on the fast track of development and expansion.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi slammed Railway Budget 2014-15, saying many states were ignored. He added that the Budget lacked vision.
Also Read: Railway Budget 2014-15 lacks vision: Rahul Gandhi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee, the former railway minister, criticised Centre for presenting a Railway Budget that "deprives people of Bengal totally".
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa
J Jayalalithaa described the NDA government's maiden Railway Budget as "fiscally responsible and bold" but urged the Centre to spare common man of the previous government's policy of fuel price-linked fare increases.
Also Read: Jaya welcomes Rail Budget, against fuel price linked fares
Former minster for railways Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress slammed the Railway Budget as "pro-rich" with former railway minster Mallikarjun Kharge insisting that it is bereft of any new scheme, plan or railway line and seeks to please the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also Read: `Pro-rich` Rail budget seeks to please PM`s home state: Kharge
Congress Party leader Manish Tewari
Manish Tewari called the budget as the one which will bring tears to the eyes of common man. This did not look like a Rail Budget but a privatisation of the railways, added Tewari.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
This is simply a budget of PPP, FDI and privatisation, opined Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Dangerous times are ahead for Railways as well as passengers, added Chowdhury.
Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee
Kalyan Banerjee says Gowda's Rail Budget lacks new idea and is motivated by Mamata Banerjee's rail budget.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav
The former Bihar chief minister took a potshot at Gowda, saying the Minister for Railways just hurriedly read what was written out for him. Calling it as “uninspiring”, Yadav said the Railway Budget 2014-15 ignored projects for Bihar.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
Hailing the Railway Budget, Rijiju said the Budget presented a lot of scope for development for the North-East. A good foundation has been laid, added Rijiju.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
Prasad said the Railway Budget will be very healthy for the Indian Railways.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu
Naidu hailed the Budget as comprehensive and realistic, vowing that the government will complete ongoing projects on priority. “Some people don't seem to be able to digest the fact that a true budget has been presented,” added Naidu.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain
The senior BJP leader said that Opposition parties are very angry at this wonderful rail budget since they can't find any points to criticise.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi congratulated Narendra Modi government, and called the Railway Budget as not only revolutionary but also a bullet budget.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said the party has already done its homework as far as bullet train for Mumbai-Ahmedabad is concerned.
