Agnipath scheme: 'Several decisions look unfair but will help in nation-building,' says PM Modi

Bengaluru: Facing fire from the Agnipath agitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indirectly defended the scheme, saying some decisions “may look unfair” at first, but will help in nation-building later. He was launching the Rs 28,000-crore suburban rail and road projects in the city.

The Prime Minister’s remark comes just ahead of the notification issued by the Army for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and a few industries stating that they were willing to absorb Agniveers after their four-year stint in the armed forces.

With an eye on the Assembly elections in the state that is less than a year away, the Prime Minister said that “Bengaluru is a reflection of the spirit of Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat. The development of Bengaluru is the development of millions of dreams. Therefore, in the last eight years, it has been a continuous effort of the Central government to develop the city further.”

Following the strategy in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi’s agenda is to give a big push to infrastructure development in Karnataka, while the BJP is trying to consolidate the Hindu vote bank. In this connection, he dedicated India’s first air-conditioned railway station to the nation, green-signalled the 100 per cent electrification of Konkan railway line and launched 150 technology hubs. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the Rs 280-crore Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

Project Roster

India’s first AC railway station

100% electrification of Konkan railway line

150 technology hubs

The Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science.