New Delhi, May 21 (IANS): Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday rebuffed the opposition's charge that the government is pro-business and cited that the government's policies will create jobs and livelihood for the poor.

The minister was speaking in an interview to the Headlines Today news channel to mark the first anniversary of the Modi government.

According to Prabhu, the government scored nine out of ten in terms of its performance during the year.

He reasoned that the government deserved nine out of ten because of the condition the country was in when it took over. He particularly cited the economic reforms pursued by the government.

Speaking about his own portfolio, the minister predicted that it will take three years at least for the railways to recover financially.

The minister accepted the Dinesh Trivedi Parliamentary Committee report released in April that cited railways' severe financial crisis.

The minister said the operating ratio of 91.8 would be achieved. Speaking about next year, he said he was very confident of achieving an operating ratio of 88.

Talking about the endless passion and the energy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi puts in his work, the minister compared him with a battery that self-charges while working.