Monday, June 13 2005 08:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Saharsa (Bihar): Railway Minister Laloo Prasad yesterday (Jun 12, 2005) claimed that the Indian Railways at present was number three in the world and his aim was to make the "Indian Railways the best in the world."

Inaugurating the 43 km Mansi-Saharsa broad gauge line under Samastipur division of the East Central Railway, Laloo said that it was now his "avowed aim to make the Indian Railways number in the world".

Laloo who had defeated senior Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Sharad Yadav from Madhepura parliamentary constituency announced that his Ministry had decided to open a sleeper manufacturing unit at Madhepura.

Speaking on the occasion he criticised Advani by stating, "Jab Advani Pakistan gai thee to unpar Jinnah ka bhoot sawar tha lekin Bharat ane par Jinnah ka bhoot nikal gaya" (Advani during his visit to Pakistan constantly talked about Jinnah and his secular credentials but on his return Advani forgot about Jinnah).

He said several parties fought the last Assembly elections but the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as the single biggest party and claimed that in the upcoming elections, the RJD would force the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to lick the dust.

The 43 km route between Mansi-Saharsa has been converted to broad gauge line at a cost of Rs 112 crore, which include bridge rehabilitation work.