BJP not trying to dislodge JD(S)-Cong govt: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, Dec 31: Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Monday said the party was not attempting to "dislodge" the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state and was not in touch with leaders of the two parties.
Dismissing an allegation by former chief minister and JDS-Congress coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah, he said there was no need for the BJP to pull down the government as the coalition partners were themselves "restive".
Yeddyurappa's assertion comes in response to a charge made on Sunday by Siddaramaiah that the saffron party was engaged in "horse trading" of Congress MLAs by offering Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore as part of its "toppling game".
"Siddaramaiah has been repeatedly giving irresponsible statements. We have been saying time and again that we do not need to topple the government. Such allegations do not suit his stature. Let him furnish evidences to support his claim," he told reporters.
The BJP leader said, "The present government is chaotic as both the parties as well as the ministers are not content. BJP is not making any attempt to destabilise the government".
The Leader of Opposition in the assembly said former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Devegowda had put forth a demand before the Congress to allot 14 seats to it in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which he claimed had become a bone of contention between the two parties.
To a query whether there was any likelihood of a major change in the government without the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) involvement, Yeddyurappa said it was hard to make any prediction in politics but added that before the next assembly session, there would be a major change.
However, he rejected that he or any of his party workers were in touch with anybody from the Congress and JD(S), including the disgruntled Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped in the recent ministry expansion and reshuffle.
Jarkiholi, who had earlier claimed the support of a sizeable number of MLAs, has remained incommunicado since he was dropped from the ministry amid reports that he was in touch with BJP leaders.
When asked whether the BJP would form the next government soon, Yeddyurappa said his party members were not "sanyasis to sacrifice everything and they do have ambition to form the government".
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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.
