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Rabri Devi pleased; coolies delighted

PATNA: Lalu Prasad’s final Budget for his current tenure as Railway Minister on Tuesday has pleased his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi no ends and for coolies it has come as a mark of their “liberation.”

The Patna Junction, which is set to become a world class station, was a scene of celebration with coolies welcoming Mr. Prasad’s announcement to promote deserving licensed ones in the fourth grade employees as gang men.

“Mr. Prasad has come as an angel. No Railway Minister ever paid heed to us. The country gained its independence 60 years ago, we stand liberated today,” they said shouting slogans hailing him.

The coolies danced and celebrated with colours. They planned to give him a rousing welcome on his next arrival here. “We’ve been carrying burden all these years. The Railway Minister has taken the load off us. We can’t express the joy done to our families. We’ll have all the benefits including a quarter and health care.”

Rabri Devi never took her eyes and ears off the TV hailing each and every announcement made by her husband. “No Railway Minister has presented five budgets without raising fares even once. The masses matter to him and he has always stood by their cause. He is the number one Railway Minister the country has ever had.”

In her words the Budget had kept the interests of all sections in mind and without giving any room for complaints. The former Chief Minister disclosed the suggestions she had herself made for inclusion in the Budget and denied that elections had any bearing on the proposals.

She was thankful that her husband had kept age in mind in giving concessions to senior citizens among women and girls commuting on trains going to schools. Mrs. Rabri Devi was equally happy that her native village Phulwaria would eventually be connected by a train. “People in the remote villages have not seen even a train. Such measures are necessary for the proper uplift of the people and removing disparities.”

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