BJP making fresh bid to topple coalition govt, alleges Dy CM Parameshwar
Bengaluru, Jan 1: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara Tuesday accused the BJP of making a fresh bid to topple the JDS-Congress coalition government in the state, asserting that it would not succeed.
As the war of words between the BJP and Congress over the alleged toppling game intensified, Parameshwara claimed that efforts were underway to arrange a meeting of his party's disgruntled MLAs with BJP president Amit Shah.
"BJP is an expert in horse trading. They have already proved it last time. This time also they tried (to unsettle the government) but they failed in their attempt. Again, they are making a fresh bid," the deputy chief minister alleged.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara charged that there were efforts to woo 'some MLAs' from his party, Congress, but he refused to divulge their names.
"Some MLAs are there and attempts are being made to arrange their meetings with the BJP national president.
"We have information that they are making attempts (to topple the government) but they will not succeed," he said.
"Government is safe and there is no need to panic," he asserted.
Parameshwara's charge comes amid reports that disgruntled Congress MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped from the ministry in the recent reshuffle, has been camping in Delhi.
He has remained incommunicado since he was removed from the ministry.
His brother Satish Jarkiholi, a minister in Kumaraswamy government, Tuesday said he too came to know that Ramesh was in Delhi.
He did not rule out the possibility of some other miffed MLAs being with him.
The BJP on Monday had maintained that it was not trying to dislodge the coalition government in Karnataka while the Congress had claimed it has evidence of 'horse trading' of its MLAs, alleging that they were each 'offered' Rs 25 crore to 30 crore.
State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa had demanded that Congress produce proof to substantiate its claim.
Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah had responded, saying he would produce evidence at the "appropriate time."
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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.
