Modi never takes leave and Rahul Gandhi goes abroad for summer; no match between two: Amit Shah
Bengaluru, Apr 2: Exuding confidence about the BJP's '400 paar' (400-plus) target, senior party leader Amit Shah on Tuesday said there is no match between the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the INDIA bloc which he called an alliance of 'pariwarwadis' (dynasts) and 'brashtacharis' (corrupt persons).
The union home minister said he believed the BJP would win all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka as well.
There is no match between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led INDIA alliance, he said, accusing the opposition bloc of rampant corruption and scams. There is also no match between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who never takes leave, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who travels abroad as summer sets in, he added.
"In the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, there is BJP and NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on one side -- and we are in the election fray under Modi's leadership -- while on the other side there is this alliance of 'pariwarwadis' (dynasts) and 'brashtacharis' (corrupt) -- the INDIA alliance," Shah said.
Addressing party workers and leaders here, he said he has travelled to about 60 per cent of the states across the country, and claimed that everywhere people are chanting slogans of "Modi, Modi''.
"Prime Minister Modi has placed a '400-paar' target in front of all the BJP workers this time. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, people of Karnataka gave 43 per cent votes and gave us 17 seats. In 2019, with 51 per cent votes, they gave us 25 seats. But this time my request to people and party workers is to ensure 60 per cent votes and win all 28 seats for the BJP alliance," he added.
Shah was addressing the 'Shakti Kendra' (a collective of 3-5 booths) leaders and workers from Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Bangalore Rural and Chikkaballapur segments on Palace Grounds here.
Noting that he can say with full confidence that the BJP-JD(S) will win all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, Shah said they will not let Congress open its account in the state.
"On one side there is Narendra Modi, who worked for 23 years as chief minister and prime minister; in 23 years, the opposition could not put even 25 paise of corruption allegation against Modi," he said. "For 23 years, Modi with transparency has set an example in the country. On the other side, there is this 'ghamandiya' (arrogant) alliance of corruption."
During the 10 years of Congress rule under Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, there was a scam and corruption of Rs 12 lakh crore, he further claimed, and also hit out at Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the issue of corruption. "People of Karnataka don't like corruption," he said.
Listing out various scams reported by the media under UPA rule such as "Coal Block, Commonwealth, 2G, INX Media, Aircel, Land-for-Job, Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association", among others, Shah said the Congress, which was allegedly involved in scams of about Rs 12 lakh crore, is competing with Modi.
"There is a clear option before the people of the country: on one side there is Narendra Modi who ran the administration for 23 years without even a paise of corruption, while on the other side is Congress that was involved in scams of Rs 12 lakh crore. These people, whenever they get power, not only indulge in corruption, their mind is never focused on serving people," he claimed.
Stating that he has been working with Modi for 40 years, Shah said Modi is probably the only person in the world who was CM and PM for 23 years, and did not take a single day's leave.
"He always worked for 'Bharat', did not take a single day's leave. While Rahul 'baba' on the other hand, goes abroad as the summer sets in. Every six months, the Congress keeps searching for him," he said. "There is no match. The whole country is unitedly standing with Narendra Modi," he asserted.
Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, party state President B Y Vijayendra and its General Secretary in-charge of elections in Karnataka Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Leader of Opposition in Assembly R Ashoka were among several top leaders present at the event.
Shah said Modi ensured Ram Lalla is shifted from a tent to a grand temple in Ayodhya, as he accused the Congress of "stalling it for decades."
He accused Congress leaders -- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and M Mallikarjun Kharge -- of skipping the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya despite invitation because of "appeasement politics".
He also defended the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and claimed that the Modi administration has ended Naxalism and terrorism in the country, and recalled quick retaliation to Uri and Pulwama terror attacks.
Noting that India has become the world's fifth largest economy under Modi from being eleventh, Shah said: "Ensure Modi is '400 paar' (NDA crosses 400 seats) and make him PM third time. Modi's guarantee is that India will become the third largest economy."
Taking a dig at INDIA alliance for recently organising "save democracy and save constitution" meets, he said, "what has happened to democracy? Nothing has happened to democracy, they did this meeting aimed at saving or protecting the corrupt."
"Listen with open ears, we had said in 2014 that those involved in Rs 12 lakh crore scams and corruption (during UPA) will be put behind bars. Tell me those involved in corruption should be put behind bars or not?" he said, targeting Rahul Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee pointing at alleged involvement of their party leaders and Ministers in corruption and the amount of money seized during raids by agencies.
The indomitable spirit of the BJP Karyakarta shows that the Lotus will bloom in every constituency in Karnataka. Addressed the Shakti Kendra Pramukh Sammelan of five Lok Sabha Constituencies in Bengaluru.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 2, 2024
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪ್ರತಿ ಲೋಕಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲೂ ಕಮಲ ಅರಳಲಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರ… pic.twitter.com/9SgvC5Stvu
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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.
