Dakshina Kannada got 5th rank in SSLC because it voted for BJP: Minister Revanna
Bengaluru, May 1: Stoking a controversy, Karnataka minister H D Revanna Wednesday claimed voting for the BJP pushed top performing Dakshina Kannada district to fifth spot in the 10th class results whereas voting for secularism (JD-S) brought students of Hassan in the first position.
The Senior Secondary Leaving Certificate exam results announced Tuesday revealed that some traditionally best performing districts such as Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (DK) were outsmarted by Hassan, Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural district,which never figured prominently in the education map.
In terms of pass percentage and number of toppers, Hassan has left other districts behind in the 10th exam conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board.
It was followed by Ramanagara.
Incidentally, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada had always been BJP stranglehold areas whereas Hassan and Ramanagara have been JD(S) citadels.
Buoyed by the unprecedented performance, Revanna, who is son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and brother of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, gave credit to his father and blamed the BJP mindset behind Udupi and Dakshina Kannada's poor performance this year.
Speaking to reporters in Hassan, Revanna, the PWD minister, said "Somebody from South Canara (Dakshina Kannada district) said the district was pushed to fifth position due to voting for BJP.
If you vote for secularism, you will come in the first position. It is an example that they (people of Dakshina Kannada) are not focusing on education."
Regarding his father, he said "There is a divine grace.
Deve Gowda has a role in our district too - It's his guidance.
Due to his directions, the district (Hassan) has topped in the state. Ramanagara is in the second position."
The BJP responded to Revanna's statement in a humorous way.
"This is not the fact. Actually, such result was the outcome of lemons Revanna carries with him always," BJP spokesperson Go Madhusudan quipped.
Revanna, a JD(S) MLA known for his superstitious beliefs, always carries with him lemon to ward off black magic and evil forces.
He was also seen moving around holding at least eight lemons in hand when the Congress workers refused to support Revanna's son Prajwal, who is contesting his maiden election from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.
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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.
