Describing Bharatiya Janata Party as 'anti-poor', Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Monday the Opposition sought to disrupt the Rail Budget proceedings as it did not want the country to know how benefits of the Railways have been passed on to the people.

"BJP and its Ram Lila mandali (Ram Lila group) know what direction the Railways had taken under their rule. They also know how 16 lakh employees of the Railways worked unitedly to bring it out of the financial rut and posted profits," he told reporters after presenting the Railway Budget.

"They (BJP) know how all sections of the people have benefited in three Rail Budgets of the United Progressive Alliance government. They kept shouting so that the people do not come to know what benefits are being passed on to them," he said.

Describing Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion) profits posted by the Railways as a 'historic surplus', the minister elaborated on the various 'pro-people' measures announced by him in the Budget, including lowering of fares and charges on all classes.

Railway Budget 2007-08: Complete Coverage