Congress fuelling protests against Agnipath scheme: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Jun 19: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday charged that the Congress was fanning the agitation across the country against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme, which was "evident" from Khanapur Congress MLA Anjali Nimbalkar staging a sit-in demonstration.
Defending the Agnipath scheme, Bommai said it is a novel initiative that is prevalent in other parts of the world.
"The sit-in demonstration staged by the Khanapur MLA is an evidence that the Congress is adding fuel to the fire with regard to the ongoing agitation against the Agnipath scheme," Bommai told reporters.
"The system of inducting youth for military training is prevalent all over the world. If the youth get military training between the age group of 17 and 21 years, they would get many opportunities after their stint," the Chief Minister said.
The soldiers would be reinducted into the military and could also join the paramilitary forces, the BJP leader said.
According to him, the scheme has been launched to bring about a younger military and infuse youth power into the armed forces.
Bommai expressed confidence that the Union government will address the apprehensions of those aspirants who have already written the exam as part of previous recruitment cycles.
However, he said violence, arson and setting fire to trains are "simply unpardonable".
"Passengers are being inconvenienced and public property is being destroyed. No responsible person will ever do it. It is very clear that this is a politically motivated act. People will see and understand this very soon," Bommai said.
Violent protests have raged on against the new military recruitment scheme in many states and the opposition parties have stepped up pressure to cancel it. On Friday, a 24-year-old man Army aspirant died during protests at Secunderabad railway station in Telangana.
Replying to a question about protests against the textbook review, CM Bommai said he will consider the suggestions of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and the seers with an open mind.
"We have not made it (textbook review) a prestige issue. We are ready to rectify the mistakes if there are any objections. We have immense respect for the veterans who toiled for the development of the country and the state, historical kings, renowned litterateurs," Bommai said.
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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution
New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.
As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.
A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.
"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.
In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.
A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.
Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.
A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.
"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.
The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.
The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.
Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.
"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.
The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.
Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.
A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.
"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.
The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.
