e first attended a classroom of post-graduate students. Then he addressed a press conference in a different classroom at the IIM-A campus, and then he attended an Open House session, which was a mega-hit with the sophisticated and learned audience.
When he was asked about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, he said that for a change he doesn't have a political agenda. However, he told the audience that Narendra Modi doesn't take interest in getting projects from Railways.
In a candid moment he also said that, in 2004, Congress president Sonia Gandhi offered him the Railway ministry. "I told her I want ministry with lathi (Home ministry)." He was reluctant to take up railways because the frequent train accidents make life very difficult for ministers. However, he took it up the challenge and decided to nurture the Indian Railways which was in a deep financial crisis.
He travelled to Japan and then to Vienna, to learn how subsidised rail system works in those nations in the private sector.
Lalu explained to the IIM students how the railways was able to earn more without raising fares and even by reducing freight.
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