After dope test, AAP lawmaker asks Punjab CM to follow suit
Chandigarh, July 5: Setting a precedent, Punjab's AAP MLA Aman Arora on Thursday underwent a dope test and dared Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to lead by example and get such a test done on himself, his Cabinet members and ruling Congress MLAs.
"The Aam Aadmi Party will support any progressive steps by the state to curb drugs problem in Punjab. But it would have been better if the Chief Minister had started the dope test with himself, his Ministers and (Congress) legislators," Arora told the media after undergoing a dope test at the Civil Hospital in Mohali, 10 km from here.
The Sunam MLA's action comes a day after Amarinder Singh ordered mandatory dope tests for all government employees, including police, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service.
"It is a matter of shame that elected representatives have to undergo ethical challenges like dope testing just because there is a big-time nexus between politicians and police officers with the drugs mafia... I appeal to everyone -- from panchayat members to the Chief Minister -- to undergo the dope test," Arora added.
"When he had to seek votes (for the Congress), Amarinder Singh held a 'Gutka Sahib' in his hand and took a pledge to wipe out drugs and drug mafia from Punjab within four weeks of coming to power. But even after over one year, nothing has been done by his government to curb the drug rackets," the AAP legislator said.
He said that the drugs problem will not be curbed till the Congress government showed the commitment to deal with politicians and police officials involved with the mafia behind these activities.
Punjab AAP Co-President Balbir Singh also asked the Chief Minister, and Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to take the lead and get their dope tests done.
Congress leader Manish Tewari welcomed the move.
"Dope tests on government servants for recruitment/promotions as proposed by the Punjab government is a welcome step. Must be made mandatory for all MLAs and MPs from the state," Tewari, a former Union Minister, tweeted.
"It would not only set an example but also remove any unreasonable classification between two classes of public servants."
Punjab is facing the brunt of rampant drugs abuse, especially among the youth and rural population.
The Punjab opposition is questioning the Congress government for not doing enough to eradicate the drug menace from the state.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
