Bommai hits back at CM, says he is making "lame excuses" to blame Centre on rice supply
Bengaluru (PTI): A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the central government of trying to scuttle his administration's free rice scheme for the poor, senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday hit back alleging that he was making "lame excuses" and indulging in "conspiracy politics" by putting the blame on the Centre.
The Congress government in the state is indulging in tactics realising that it will default on the guarantees, the former chief minister said, suggesting that the Siddaramaiah regime put the money into the bank account of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer, until it makes necessary arrangements for rice.
"The state government on one hand is cheating the people of the state with regard to providing 10 kg of free rice to the poor, and on the other hand to save themselves from the bad name of having failed to fulfill the promise, is playing politics on the issue of supply of rice," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Centre as per the Food Security Act is giving 5 kg of free rice to the poor every month and from December they are also bearing handling and transport charges, which was earlier borne by the States.
"Out of the 10 kg that has been announced by the Congress government in the state, five kg are provided by the Centre; the state government has to tell the truth by saying that they will give additional five kg," he added.
Siddaramaiah on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of conspiring to "fail" the Congress administration's poll guarantee by ensuring that the state doesn't get the required amount of rice to implement its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides additional 5 kg of rice for BPL families.
He had said that the central government has stalled the sale of wheat and rice to state governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSSD), which prohibits the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from selling any additional rice to Karnataka for its Anna Bhagya scheme.
Noting that even when the BJP government led by him tried to procure rice, Bommai said the FCI even then had said that there was no provision and he and his officials had to speak to central ministers and put pressure. He had then clearly stated in the file and had instructed the officials that the rice will be available only till March, and after April additional rice will have to be procured through tender, he added.
"Not sure what actions officials take too. I want to ask this government -- the CM, ministers and officials held several rounds of discussions with the ministers -- you should have known what will be the shortage to provide 10 kg and considering my caution note they should have taken alternative measures through short term tender", he said.
If the government had a commitment, they should have taken alternative measures, Bommai said, alleging that it looks like making lame excuses was the only intention, so they did not take any measures.
"Instead of taking alternative measures, you blame the Centre, you lack will power. You have not been able to walk the talk and manage money for guarantees. As you have realised that you will not be able to fulfill the promises and will default on the guarantees, you are playing conspiracy politics by putting the blame on the Centre," he added.
Questioning whether the FCI or the ministry of food and civil supplies is the allotment agency, the former CM questioned why despite this being an important scheme of the state government no letter was written to the concerned central minister. The state food minister should have been sent to the Centre.
Neither was an alternative arrangement made by calling a tender, nor were honest efforts made to get the required rice from the Centre, he said, adding the state government instead wrote to the FCI, which is just a stockist and doesn't have any authority.
"Taking the stockist's version and using it for politics is not right on the part of the chief minister...they (State government) are doing politics," he said as he urged the state government to make alternative arrangements either through the open market or other central agencies, and supply rice to the poor from July 1 as promised.
"In case the state is unable to provide rice on time, put the money into the bank account of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer, until you make necessary arrangements," he added.
On the hike in power tariff, Bommai clarified that it was not done by the previous BJP government led by him as alleged, as the order was issued under the present Congress regime.
"When the proposal was brought before us on March 13, we did not accept it. On May 12 Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) issued the notification, which was two days after the election and the code of conduct was still in place, so our government had no role. On June 2 an official order was issued -- whose government was in power? False information is being spread blaming the previous administration," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
