Biharsharif: In a bid to play down jailed RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) MP Pappu Yadav keeping links with ministers and officials on mobile phone, RJD president and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Dec 12, 2004) argued there is no machine, which could identify the place from where one is making a call. "Is there any machine which can identify the place from where one is making a call to someone," Laloo said addressing a function after inauguration of 400 KV double circuit of Khalgoan-Biharsharif transmission line.

"Likewise one can call even a judge," Laloo said and flayed the media for highlighting negative things at the cost of positive ones.

Print outs of the mobile phone seized from the Madhepura MP during a raid at Beur Jail on Wednesday last revealed he had talked to Jail Minister Raghvendra Pratap Singh and other ministers and officials from behind bars.

Assailing the Opposition parties for alleging that no development work had taken place in Bihar in the past 15 years of RJD rule, the RJD chief said, "Good days for Bihar has come now with the RJD being in power in the State as well the Centre. We will completely turn the face of the State in next one year by strengthening the infrastructure, which will compel industrialists to come to Bihar with huge investment."

Union Power Minister P M Sayeed admitted that the power scenario in Bihar was bad in comparison to other States and said the Centre was taking measures to improve the situation.

The Centre has approved Rs 365 crore for strengthening transmission in Bihar besides a sum of Rs 765 crore has been okayed for rural power projects in the State, he said.

The Union Power Minister said that plans were afoot to enhance the capacity of Khalgoan power station from 840 MW at present to 1500 MW.

Without naming anyone, the Railway Minister said some vested interests were against development of the State and alleged that the kidnapping of two NHPC (National Hydropower Corporation) technocrats last month was a result of that.

But, the anti-socials had to bow down before the State Government's commitment to the development work and free NHPC general manager (Project) T Mandal and chief engineer K K Singh, he said.

Bihar Power Minister Shakeel Ahmad Khan and his junior Shyam Razak also spoke on the occasion.

Senior JD-U (Janata Dal-United) leader and local MP Nitish Kumar, whose name figured in the list of dignitaries who would grace the occasion, was not present.