The Hindu Business Line : Lalu admits Rlys is easier work than Bihar

When Railway Minister Mr Lalu Prasad addressed a group of students from the Harvard and Wharton Business Schools here on Wednesday, he admitted that achieving a turnaround in Railways was easier than turning around the fate of Bihar.

There was a query from students asking him why he could not turn around Bihar after heading the State for almost 15 years, while he turned around the Railways in 30 months.

`Outside push'

"Bihar needs an outside push. The State is perpetually hit by floods, faces problems from Naxals and also has the lowest per capita investment. Railways has huge potential," Mr Prasad told reporters.

The session lasting more than one hour with students from Harvard and Wharton who are here to study the leadership qualities of Mr Prasad, was not open to the media. However, after the session with students, the Minister addressed a press conference.

Session with students

During the session with students, Mr Prasad spoke in Hindi and his speech was translated.

The Minister explained how he had broken the myth of the western model that an enterprise that proves to be a liability should be privatised and its employees retrenched.

Mr Kunal Singh, an Indian student at Harvard, told reporters, "We asked him if his model was sustainable. What happens when he exits as railway minister?"

To this the Minister said, "We have put a very good system in place. It would continue to do well.

"This is an organisation managed by professionals (Indian Railway Service officers). Our achievement is that we have not allowed IAS officers to take over the Board."

To a poser on when he would become the Prime Minister, Mr Prasad said he had put those plans on hold for now.

"A student from Pakistan asked me — when are you becoming the Prime Minister? I told him that the plans are on hold (Woh hum pending kar diya). I am young (to become the PM) so what if I have grey hair," Mr Prasad said, amidst peals of laughter.

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