Zakir Hussain
Dimapur | February 28
After winning the hearts of the common man through his fifth railways budget, Railway Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav Thursday announced that the 85 Km Dimapur to Zubza Railway network at the cost of Rs. 10 crore would be a national project and would also consider a rail network between Tuli and Mokokchung. Yadav was addressing a RJD public rally at the DDSC Stadium, Dimapur.
Emphasizing on RJD’s priority, Yadav said the party was determined to develop the railway and road communications of the State through which the region could be developed. He also emphasized the importance of farmers’ welfare and facilities for poor people. Stating about lack of development in the northeast region, he said “Food cannot come from heaven; it will come though the construction of railway, electricity and airports.”
Accusing the BJP party for spreading communal hatred in the country, Yadav said the country was burning as ‘Ram’ and ‘Rahim’ were killing each other. He added that during RJD regime in Bihar, he was the only one who stopped the ‘Rath Yatra’ of former deputy prime minister, LK Advani and put him behind bars at Jharkhand jail.
Highlighting the plight of north Indian people, especially from Bihar in Maharashtra and Assam, he cautioned Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena and United Liberation Front of Asom not to target the Hindi-speaking people, especially Biharis. Talking about Bal Thackeray, he said that Thackeray was too old to fight in the name of religion, caste, community etc. and further challenged Thackeray that he was going to celebrate ‘Chath Puja’ in Mumbai along with his people.
Stating about the turn around of Indian Railway in the last four years, Yadav said “I stopped corruption and mal-practices in the Railways.” Stating about the Fifth Railways Budget, Yadav said girls till the completion of BA would get free traveling pass, boys till 12th standard and 50 percent concession for senior citizens (60 years), fully air-conditioned ‘Garib Rath’ etc. Yadav also assured the porters of India (Coolie) with Grade IV jobs in the Railways. Yadav further appealed the people to elect the 25 RJD candidates with majority in the forth-coming State assembly elections.
TN Mannen, chairman, RJD State parliamentary board, who is also the RJD candidate for 23 Impur A/C, said RJD party was neither enemy to Congress nor NPF. He asserted “Like railways, Lalu will turn around Nagaland into miraculous and prosperous State” and added that the State expect economic and social development from the RJD party. He also appealed the Railway Minister to see into the railway and road communication problems as ‘Nagaland is a land-lock state.”
Lalu Prashad Yadav was accompanied by Prem Chand Gupta, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs, Jay Prakash Narayan, Minister of State for Water Resources and Mungilal Mandal, MP, Rajya Sabha and In-charge Northeast. Khetovi Kinny, State president RJD delivered the welcome address.
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