Kannada should stay as the main language, Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Dec 27 : The decision to have English as the medium of instruction in 1,000 government schools in the state from next academic year is set to become a new bone of contention between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his Congress predecessor Siddaramaiah.
The Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government has moved ahead with its plan to have 1,000 English medium government schools, drawing flak from Siddaramaiah.
Speaking on the occasion of free book distribution ceremony at the Kalidas Vidyalaya at Badami in Bagalkot district, Siddaramaiah Thursday insisted that there should be clarity on Kannada, the state language.
"There should be clarity on issue of Kannada language as the medium of instruction. I studied in Kannada till my highschool. Am I stupid? Kannada should stay as the main languageacross Karnataka," Siddaramaiah insisted.
The former chief minister said he would speak to Kumaraswamy who has been strongly defending the government's move, ignoring the opposition from Kannada protagonists.
Siddaramaiah's remarks come at a time when cracks have surfaced between the two coalition partners Congress and JD(S) over several issues.
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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.
