New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani seemed the happiest with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu's budget Thursday.
As soon as Prabhu finished reading his more than an hour long speech, a pleased looking Advani, who was sitting next to him, patted him vigorously and shook his hands.
The senior leader usually keeps a low profile in the house these days.
A beaming Prabhu folded his hands and greeted the senior leader in return.
-*-
No front row for Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was a little late in entering the Lok Sabha, had to sit next to Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur as his usual seat in the front row was occupied by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Advani and Prabhu.
Jaitley came in nearly five minutes after Prabhu began his speech. Harsimrat Kaur immediately attempted to strike a conversation with the finance minister.
Though initially Jaitley was seen trying to concentrate on the railway budget, very soon he chatted up the food processing industries minister, who is the wife of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
-*-
'Hey Prabhu'
The Railway minister evoked peals of laughter when reflecting on the challenging tasks before him, he remarked:
"Hey Prabhu, ye kaise hoga? (Oh God, how can this be done?). His remarks led to guffaws in the house, which was till then listening with apt attention to the finer nuances of the budget.
However, he was quick to add that large resources will ensure "re-birth of the railways".
-*-
An animated Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who usually sits with an impassive face, was seen animatedly discussing the rail budget with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The two top leaders were holding copies of the railway budget speech and discussing it.
-*-
No MP fund for railway
Prabhu Thursday touched a raw nerve when he suggested that MPs use part of their development funds in improving facilities at railway stations.
"No no no..." almost all opposition MPs shouted when he made the suggestion.
Talking about making passenger amenities better as he presented the railway budget for 2015-16, he said: "I request all corporates, NGOs, charitable institutions and religious institutions to come forward and invest generously for passenger amenities from their CSR fund.
"I also request all MPs to use part of their MPLAD funds in improving facilities at railway stations."
Some opposition MPs were quick to ask for a raise in the MPLAD fund.
G-20 Summit: White House praised PM Modi, said- Biden is feeling positive
The G-20 summit held under the chairmanship of India this year was very successful. The success of G-20 is being praised all over the world. The White House has been praising India and PM Modi since
Bangladesh Protests: At least 300 people have died so far in Bangladesh due to violence, and curfew imposed across the country
Students' protest against reservation continues in Bangladesh. There is a curfew here at 6 pm on Sunday. According to a media report, at least 300 people have died in the violence so far, although no
Hemkunt Foundation set up a 500-bed temporary covid care center
Gurugram Covid patients are not getting beds in private and government hospitals. Family members are constantly pleading for treatment and beds in hospitals to save their loved ones. Even after this,
Big terrorist attack averted in Germany: Two brothers arrested for planning attack with chemicals, both were Islamic fundamentalists
Two alleged terrorists were arrested in Germany on Sunday after an operation. There are allegations against them that they were going to attack Germany with dangerous biological weapons. The police
Total lockdown till 4 April in Beed and Nanded, Maharashtra, actor Aamir Khan Corona infected
Actor Aamir Khan's Corona report has come positive. For the time being, he has been quarantined in his home. This information is given by his PA. Apart from this, the government has imposed a total
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said India's development is linked to the depth of development of Indian technology
Global Technology Summit 2022 is being organized in the national capital Delhi. In this conference on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar joined. He said that the development of India is
World Malaria Day: Big game in malaria death figures in Delhi, only 2 patients died in 6 years
Economically weak Sri Lanka may have become malaria-free, but malaria eradication in the country's capital Delhi is still a big challenge. Under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program
Budget 2024: Atishi called the interim budget a box of catchphrases, and said- Central government behaves step-motherly
The AAP government in Delhi termed the budget presented by the BJP central government on Thursday as a jumla. Giving her reaction on the Union Budget, Delhi Finance Minister Atishi said that the
PM Modi's New Year Gift: 10th installment of PM Kisan Yojana will come in the account of farmers on January 1, check your name in the list like this
The 10th installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will come in the bank account of farmers on January 1. The Modi government has announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will transfer the 10th
Randeep-Lin Wedding: Randeep and Lin wore traditional clothes of Manipur in the wedding, know about it
Randeep Hooda, who has won people\'s hearts with his acting by working in films like Sarabjit, married his girlfriend Lynn Laishram on Wednesday. The wedding ceremony was organized in Imphal, Manipur,
