Rajdhani runs into Rabri brother; delayed

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s brother-in-law and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Subhash Yadav seems to have got into the habit of taking the Railways for a ride. On Saturday night, Yadav, who could not get a confirmed berth in the AC I coach of the 2309 Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, lost his cool after he was adjusted in a Second AC coach and threatened railway officials at Patna Junction. His supporters pulled the chain, stopping and delaying the train for a good 20 minutes.

“I am the Parliament… I am the Parliament,” the MP shouted as he ordered the officials to arrange for a berth for him in the AC I coach.

Yadav claimed he had sent a requisition for AC I berths four days back. But the train, particularly the first class coach, was booked out and had several VIPs travelling on it. That did not deter Yadav, who occupied seats 19 and 20 even though his was a wait-listed ticket. The berths were reserved against the name of another MP, DP Yadav, who was to board at Mughalsarai. Finding no way out, the officials requested two other passengers to shift to AC II to make way for the MP.

The Railways have asked senior officials to investigate the matter. “They have been asked to find out under what circumstances the Rajdhani Express was detained,” chief public relations officer, East Central Railway, AK Chandra said. Divisional Railway Manager, Danapur, Pankaj Jain confirmed the train was stopped for 20 minutes.

The Railway Minister, in Bhagalpur for a function, refused to comment on the episode.

This incident is not the first of its kind. Yadav and his brother Sadhu Yadav had earlier compelled railway authorities at Patna to change the designated platforms of two trains. Subhash Yadav had managed to get his way then while Sadhu had to board his train from the designated platform. Then their eldest brother Prabhunath Singh Yadav had reportedly entered into an alteraction with the pantry car workers of the 2010 New Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express. More recently, Lalu’s father-in-law was fined for travelling in an AC I coach on the Samapark Kranti Express without a valid ticket.