What did you do when farmers protested in Delhi: Deve Gowda hits out at Modi
Farm loan waiver scheme
Bengaluru, Jan 2: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a jibe at the Karnataka government's farm loan waiver scheme and questioned him about demonetisation and the Ram mandir issue.
"I have observed taunting statements of @narendramodion Karnataka's crop loan waiver scheme.
Dear PM, more than 60,000 farmers have already received money directly into their bank accounts.
We are determined to keep our promise to the farmers and are acting on the same lines," Gowda said in a tweet.
"Dear @narendramodi, if your index finger is busy questioning us,the other fingers are questioning you about demonetisation, Clean Ganga, inter-linking of rivers, Ram Mandir And other unfulfilled promises.
Please remind yourself about how you treated farmers during protests in Delhi," the JD(S)supremo said in another tweet.
Addressing a rally at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh last week, Modi had said the Congress promised loan waivers to lakhs of farmers, but the JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka did not deliver.
"Lollipops" were handed out. The loan waiver was given to only 800 farmers, Modi had claimed.
Also, taking on the state government over loan waiver scheme, Modi, while addressing party workers of the state via video conference, on Friday had termed it as the "most cruel joke on farmers".
Modi's comments had drawn sharp criticism from Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
While Kumaraswamy had accused the Prime Minister of misleading the country for "political gains, Siddaramaiah questioned Modi's "moral right" to criticise the state government's farm loan waiver scheme and called him "anti farmer".
The Kumaraswamy-led state government had announced over Rs 45,000 crore loan waiver scheme in July, soon after coming to power.
But it has been bogged down by several issues relating to banks.
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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.
