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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Bomb threat calls received for Mumbai airport, CSMT; both turn out to be hoaxes, say cops
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police on Friday received a call threatening a bomb blast at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) though a thorough check of the facility did not reveal anything suspicious, an official said.
The call, which was received at the main control room of Mumbai police this afternoon, was classified as a hoax, he said.
"Another call was also received claiming the blast would take place at 6:15pm. A probe has found both calls were made by the same person. The process of registering a case is underway," the official said.
The control room of the railway police too received a call threatening a blast at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, though this too turned out to be a hoax after a round of intensive checking by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and canine squad, another official said.
