Railway Minister Basks in Budget Accolades
Patna: March 2, 2008
 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, at a function organized to mark the 630th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas at S. K. Memorial Hall in Patna on Sunday, appealed to all Dalits to remain united despite different political ideologies saying that would be the biggest homage to the 14th century social reformer.
"While Sant Ravidas cannot be 'owned' by any particular community, Dalits should strive to maintain unity if they would like to move ahead in life," Yadav said while showering praise for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, a Dalit, saying her immense influence on Uttar Pradesh politics and rise in the national political scene could not be overlooked.
The Railway Minister also commented on the editorial in the recent issue of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece 'Organizer' that commends the latest railway budget as presented by Yadav last week.
"Finally the Organizer had the guts to face the truth and speak about the budget by sidelining political differences," Yadav said adding this, however, would not change his views on the RSS that continues to remain a 'communal' outfit.
The RJD president also shrugged off the railway budget criticism by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi saying their job was to disparage anything that the UPA government does. "That's the way it goes in politics," he said.
Central Ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Jai Prakash Narain Yadav, MP Ram Kripal Yadav, former Bihar minister Shyam Rajak, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Ghulam Gaus and Shankar Prasad Tekriwal were also present on the occasion.
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