The Government on Wednesday assured the Rajya Sabha that it was taking all steps to ensure safety of rail passengers in the wake of attack on rail tracks allegedly by terrorists in the past few months and said it was in constant touch with the State Governments to prevent such incidents.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh claimed there was a disconnect between the Home Ministry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he mentioned in an election speech in Uttar Pradesh last month that recent Kanpur railway attack was carried out by forces from across the border.
However, the Government informed the House that the probe was still on, the Congress leader said and wondered if the Prime Minister was getting his reports directly from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which functions under the Home Ministry.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh rebutted his charge and asked him to wait for the final findings.
Fielding questions about safety of railway tracks and passengers, the Home Minister though it was a law and order issue thereby a state subject but the Central intelligence agencies were in constant touch with the State Governments. He also said there was perfect co-ordination on sharing information between the Centre and States and preventive steps were taken in case of a specific input.
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said the Central Government had issued advisories to the States to enhance vigil on sensitive railway stations besides making provision of CCTVs and carrying regular anti-sabotage checks.
Among other issues, a demand for allowing the use of mother tongue to write the civil services main examination was raised and the entire Oppos-
ition backed the issue raised by Ritabrata Banerjee(CPM). He said the present selection system did not give a fair chance to candidates from rural areas.
Ali Anwar Ansari (JD-U) demanded enforcement of the Street Vendors (Protection of livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014 to prevent street hawkers from harassment by municipal authorities, police and anti-social elements.
While P Bhattacharya (Congress) raised the issue of crime and frauds being glamorised in TV serials and demanded social controls be imposed, C P Narayanan (CPM) drew the attention of the House to rising incidents of sexual assaults on minor girls and infants.