Modi's farmers rally an epic flop, his speech full of white lies: Congress
New Delhi, July 11: Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's farmers' rally in Punjab's Malout was an "epic flop", the Congress on Wednesday termed him the "emperor of lies and king of rhetoric" as his speech was "laced with white lies".
The party also said the stark reality is that Modi government has betrayed the farmers in last four years on the solemn promise of Cost+50 per cent profit to them, and it will raise the issue of farmers in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "It is time Modiji faced the stark reality... the poor response of the farmers to his speech today (Wednesday) is a clear indicator of Modi losing grip on the narrative."
"Modi's first farmer rally in Punjab after announcing 'jumla' of MSP was an epic flop. There were no farmers in the rally, neither the rented crowd, nor their own BJP workers were impressed by his speech laced with white lies," she said.
Terming Modi the "emperor of lies and king of rhetoric," whose "lies are becoming popular across the world", she said: "Modi in his speech came up with a whole set of lies and jumlas to mislead the farmers and the nation. He came up with cost price which varies with the Commission of Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP) 2018-19 report."
"If you take into account the CACP data, the promise of MSP+50 per cent is far from the truth. With the increase in cost factoring in the current inflation the MSP announced is C2+15 per cent for paddy, C2+20 per cent for Ragi and C2+19 per cent on Moong etc.
"This is confirmed by agriculture scientist M. S. Swaminathan himself, who has drafted the Swaminathan report on the basis of which Modi made huge promises to the farmers of Cost+50 per cent profit," she added.
Countering Modi's claims, the Congress said he claimed that soil health cards were issued by his government, though the programme was started in 2009 under UPA and 5 crore cards were distributed by 2012 itself.
It also said that while Modi said that 9,000 soil examination centres have been approved by his government against 40-50 soil testing labs by the Congress, it said that the UPA established 1,141 soil testing labs.
Also noting neem-coated urea was an initiative of UPA in 2011, it asked him why he did not mention the PM's crop insurance scheme.
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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.
