The Congress welcomed the Rail Budget, saying that it is a pro people budget. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, party spokesman Dr Shakeel Ahmad said, there has been no hike in Rail fares since last seven years of UPA regime.Criticizing the Rail Budget, the main opposition BJP said, it has deviated from its main objective of safe and convenient transportation of passengers and freight. Party spokesman Gopinath Munde said, the Rail Budget is focused on West Bengal, keeping in mind the coming Assembly elections next year. He added that the rest of the country has been ignored in the budget. Meanwhile, the CPIM criticized the Rail Budget, saying it lacked innovation. CPIM leader Basudeb Acharia alleged that the Railways were moving towards privatisation. The CPI also rejected the Rail Budget as a political document.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. M. Karunanidhi has congragulated Railway minister Ms. Mamta Banerjee for presenting the budget without hiking passenger fares and freight besides announcing a slew of projects for the state. In a statement issued in Chennai on Wednesday, the chief minister lauded introduction of new trains to various places in the state besides expressing satisfaction on the decision to set up a sports academy in Chennai and modernization of the intergral coach factory.The AIADMK General Secretary Ms. Jayalalitha complimented Ms.Banerjee for striking a delicate balance between long term vision and short term requirements without hiking passenger and freight rates.