Lalu Prasad has slammed BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani for raising the controversial Ram temple issue at a programme in Kanpur.
VADODARA: Railways Minister Lalu Prasad has slammed BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani for raising the controversial Ram temple issue at a programme in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh couple of days ago.
While referring to Advani's remark over the Ram temple issue ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Lalu said the people of India will not allow him (Advani) to be the prime minister of the country.
He was talking to the newsmen after laying the foundation stone of the project for converting narrow gauge railway line to broad gauge line between Ankleshwar-Rajpipla and Brauch-Samni-Dahej stations here.
Lalu said BJP was forced to declare Advani as the prime ministerial candidate, as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi emerged as a strong claimant for the PM's post.
Blaming media for the political crisis in the UPA government over the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, he said that the UPA government at the Centre will complete its five years term.
When asked about the support from Smajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in case of Left's withdrawl from the government over nuclear deal issue, he said: "We and Mulayam Singh are united and there is no difference between him and us".
He declined to disclose about his discussions with Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar on nuclear issue.
Lalu blamed the BJP for price rise of the essential commodities saying that the party was supporting hoarders and traders by not taking action against them in BJP ruled states.
Lalu also held BJP-ruled states responsible for rise in the price of petroleum products, as they have not bothered to reduce sales tax on such products.
He cited the example of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit who reduced the cooking gas price by Rs 40 per cylinder.
"Inflation is world wide phenomenon and all the countries have been suffering due to soaring of inflation rate," he said while commenting on inflation.
Lalu said the railway fares will not be increased despite hike in crude oil prices, though Railways consume one third of the total import of crude oil.
The railway minister said that guage conversion of Bharuch-Samni-Dahej would be completed in 18 months at a total cost of Rs 230 crores, which will connect the important port of Dahej on south Gujarat coast to the vast Indian railway network under the prestigious National Rail Vikas Yojna.
He said the gauge conversion project of Ankleshwar-Rajpipla line will help boost socio-economic growth and all round development of the region, he added.
Lalu said that a proposal on giving recognition to the degrees awarded by the "madarasas" across the country for recruitment in lower category of the employees in the Railways is under consideration.
This will be in addition to degrees awarded in Hindi and Urdu languages, he added. Lalu claimed that railways is expected to make a profit of Rs one lakh crore at the end of the fiscal 2008-09.
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