'Railway budget will lead to a paradigm shift for India': Reactions to Suresh Prabhu's presentation

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s hour-long speech in Parliament met with mixed political and social media reactions, getting both effusive praise and disparaging criticism. In the budget, Prabhu had mentioned a slew of new initiatives, including unreserved trains, WiFi in trains, provisions for children and senior citizens. However, not everyone was convinced with the railway minister’s offering. Here are some of the major reactions to the railway budget-

**Narendra Modi- “**I extend my congratulations to Suresh Prabhu and Team Railways for the budget. There is a shift in policy in the budget, which will lead to a paradigm shift for India,” the Prime Minister said.

I congratulate Suresh Prabhu and Team railway-PM Narendra Modi on #RailBudget2016 pic.twitter.com/6cnjYU1PlD

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2016

We are answerable to the consumers, this is our focus and the focus of this #RailBudget2016-PM Modi

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2016

Pawan Bansal: The former railway minister said that there was nothing new in the budget, except for the announcement on bio-vacuum toilets. “The announcement on two locomotive factories is also old; it was decided when I was the railway minister,” he said.

Prakash Javadekar- The senior BJP leader said, “It was overall a very good budget. I will give it 9 out of 10 marks.” However, he did not mention what he deducted one point for.

Shashi Tharoor- On the other hand, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “We all were a bit mystified on whether a budget was really presented or not.

Not surprisingly, the Twitterati did not waste time in seeing the lighter side of the railway budget.

A huge railway budget for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train because Modi knows the pain of leaving Gujarat.. #justsayingagain #wadupmitron

— Archita Rai (@Archii033) February 15, 2016

I am worried क़ि कहीं अगले railway Budget में
रुमाल फेंक कर ट्रेन में सीट बुक करने की सुविधा बंद न हो जाये। 😐😐

— Ayush 🇮🇳 (@BakCode) February 12, 2016