Lalu Prasad on Monday received praise from his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who described him as the 'best-ever' railway minister and congratulated him on presenting a 'people-friendly' budget once again.

"Laluji is the best-ever railway minister. He has presented yet another people-friendly budget with no hike in passenger fares and a slew of measures for improving the services and safety," Rabri Devi told reporters in Patna.

She said the record 20,000 crore profit was the result of untiring efforts of the railway fraternity under the leadership of Lalu Prasad.

Terming introduction of 32 trains, including five for Bihar as a commendable step, she said the greenfield electric locomotive manufacturing unit at Madhepura was a big gift for industry-starved Bihar.

She thanked the railway minister for showing respect to women by introducing the facility of reservation of lower berths for women above 45 years travelling alone.

Rabri Devi, leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly, assailed the opposition for interrupting the railway minister's speech.

"They (the opposition) are jealous of the rapidly growing popularity of Laluji and this was manifest in their conduct today in Parliament during the budget presentation," she said.

A smiling Rabri Devi, who watched the presentation of the Railway Budget on television, said that it was a best ever Railway Budget. "There is little doubt about it," she claimed.

She said that she had expected a people-friendly budget and "Laluji has made me happy with his new announcements.

Additional inputs: PTI

• Railway Budget 2007-08: Complete Coverage