Rail Budget Protest: Congress leader stomps on Gowda nameplate

Congress protested outside the residence of Gowda and elsewhere over the Budget, while their vice-president Rahul Gandhi called it a budget without vision.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi  said the Railway Budget presented by the Modi government lacked vision and deprived states like West Bengal and Kerala. He called it uninspiring.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said it is devastating for the common man and the budget looked like privatisation of the Indian Railway.

Promising course correction and pledging to move away from populism, Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday presented the Narendra Modi government's maiden Railway Budget focussing on a public-private partnership in infrastructure development, infusion of FDI, announcing introduction of a diamond quadrilateral of high speed trains, an inaugural bullet train service besides harping on e-ticketing augmentation, safety of passengers and cleanliness.

While the Lok Sabha was adjourned after budget speech of Sadananda Gowda amid din by disgruntled MPs of Opposition from various regions, Gowda promised on infrastructure and modernization besides taking forward wi-fi system.

"I have an open mind to correct," said Gowda, who emphasised on logistic parks and private freight terminals on PPP model.