New Delhi: Some decisions may appear unfair at first but will help in nation-building later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a public rally in Bengaluru Monday, without making a direct reference to his government’s defence recruitment scheme Agnipath which has sparked nationwide protests.
He had made similar remarks a day earlier too, as he hit out at the Opposition after inaugurating parts of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor in Delhi, again without mentioning the Agnipath scheme. It was the country’s “misfortune that many good things brought with good intentions” get trapped in politics, he had said Sunday.
The PM was speaking in Bengaluru the same day the army issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme, under which online registration of applicants will begin next month.
His remarks come at a time of violent protests in several parts of the country, due to which more than 500 trains were cancelled Monday and the Indian Railways suffered massive loss of property which was vandalised by anti-Agnipath protesters. Some organisations are even pushing for a ‘Bharat Bandh’, demanding a rollback of the scheme.
Despite attempts by the government to pacify protesters, the anger against Agnipath has not died down. Principal opposition party Congress has also been holding protests against the scheme, with party MP Mallikarjun Kharge saying Monday that this was the first time service chiefs are “being fronted to defend a policy decision by the government”.
The Centre however has maintained that it is a good scheme for modernisation of the army and it will not be rolled back.
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‘Path of reform can alone take us towards new targets’
Addressing the public programme in Bengaluru Monday, he said: “The path of reform can alone take us towards new targets and new resolve.”
“The path of innovation and start-ups is not easy. We have made efforts over eight years for start-ups. We have opened up space and defence for youth. Sometimes decisions taken may look unfair at first, but in due time (they) help in nation-building,” he added.
Modi is on a two-day visit to Karnataka to inaugurate multiple rail and road infrastructure projects. He is also slated to take part in a World Yoga Day event on Tuesday in Mysuru.
On Sunday, he had said in Delhi that last year, when he had inaugurated a Defence Officer Complex, the project too had met with opposition.
“Whenever you try something in our country, there is no dearth of people who will move courts, erect hurdles in the way. Many problems arise in the way of the country (moving) forward. This project too faced difficulties…,” he added.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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