The BJP took strong exception to the minister's remark that though loading on same scale was done; it was shown to be underweight in return for money. The BJP members demanded that since the minister was making a grave charge he should substantiate his allegation or withdraw it. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said being a minister, Lalu Prasad should not indulge in making a general comment but specify and prove his `grave charge'. The minister asserted he had not made any charge against any party or leader of the NDA and had said that loading was shown as underweight for which he had punished officials.

Earlier, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj sought to counter Prasad's claims that the Railways was showing surplus of Rs 20,000 crore despite any substantial increase in passenger and freight fares. She said 30 per cent of rail tickets of all trains in the country were now being sold under the `tatkal' scheme against 10 per cent earlier and counters were closed after 70 per cent of tickets were sold. She said premium on such tickets had increased by three times in various classes and charges for cancellation of ticket and the service tax had been hiked.