New Delhi: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (July 6, 2004) attacked Railway Minister Laloo Prasad for announcing hike in parcel rates and said many of the measures announced by the Minister were initiated by the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government. "The Railway Budget has hardly anything to cheer about. Many of the measures announced by him (Laloo) are mere extension of the steps taken by our Government. The increase in parcel rates will have cascading effect," BJP spokesperson V K Malhotra said in New Delhi.

Reacting on the proposed introduction of 15 new trains, he said people should wait and watch till the announcement of new trains gets fructified.

"I thank the Railway Minister for praising the earlier Government. Almost all the steps he announced were the brainchild of the NDA Government. The welfare measures for workers from the unorganised sector were, if fact, introduced by us," Malhotra said.