Chapra, November 19
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has claimed that he is “minister number one” and said his ministry was poised to cross another milestone with profits likely to touch the Rs 20,000-crore mark this year.

“Maine media se barbar suna aur samjha hai log mujhe do numbri ya joker kehte hain. Main do numbri nahin, main ek number hoon (I have heard from the media that my critics call me a fraud or a joker. But I am number one),” he told a gathering after inaugurating a foot bridge in his parliamentary constituency yesterday. “I am India’s minister number one,” he added.

The Railways has projected an increase of 11 per cent in its profits, which he described as “a miracle achieved through good planning and very hard work being done by me and my team”.

“Some more miracles are in store for the Railways due to our relentless efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Lalu Prasad's prized possession - a horse which responds to only English commands - finally found a new master today. Pawan, who was on display for the past three days at one of Asia’s biggest cattle fairs in Bihar’s Sonepur, was sold for Rs 1.1 lakh to a farmer, Baleshwar Rai, who lives in the Raghopur Assembly constituency of Mr Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi.

The horse had a price tag of Rs 1.51 lakh. — PTI