File Photo: Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday praised the railway budget for not including populist measures like announcement of new trains, and lauded Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu for focusing on fulfilling projects unveiled in past budgets.
Amid criticism for its first full-fledged rail budget by opposition parties, as well as ally Shiv Sena, the BJP government found praise from the Samajwadi Party leader as Mr Yadav refrained from attacking the rail budget and even lauded some of its measures.
"This is a good job. He (Suresh Prabhu) has not announced new schemes and promised that he will focus on executing past measures. If he succeeds in doing so, it will be a huge accomplishment," Mr Yadav told reporters outside Parliament.
Citing new schemes announced by railway ministers in previous budgets, he said many proposals have been pending for over 15 years and while land has been acquired, the projects haven't been set up yet.
"I am satisfied with this announcement in the budget," he reiterated.
Asked about criticism of the rail budget by the Congress party, he declined to make any comment.