Amid ongoing controversy over the Indian Army helping in the construction of three foot-over bridges of Railways, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said that he agreed to it to boost Army's image.
Amid ongoing controversy over the Indian Army helping in the construction of three foot-over bridges of Railways, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said that he agreed to it to boost Army's image.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Elphinstone Road station along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal where it was announced that Army will help build foot overbridge at three stations including Elphinstone.
On September 29, 23 people were killed in the rush hour stampede on a narrow overbridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations during heavy rain.
The government's decision invited criticism from several political leaders who said that the Army's job is to train for war and there was no need divert defence resources.
However, Bipin Rawat told Business Standard that he has directed the army to build three railway bridges in Mumbai to boost the army’s image.
He also said that army was the first responder in almost every natural disaster, and whenever the civil administration needed help.
“We often hold camps in various towns and cities on the theme of ‘Know your Army’. I would prefer that our citizens get to know their army by seeing us come to their assistance with the efficiency and capability we are known for,” Rawat said.
Senior Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had hit out at Nirmala Sitharaman saying, Army's job is to train for war and not to be used for civilian works.
"The @adgpi job is to train for war, not to be used for civilian works @nsitharaman ji. Don’t divert defence resources to civilian jobs. You’re doing what General Kaul did with the 4th Div before 1962 war with China. It will set a very bad precedent. Please avoid," Amarinder Singh tweeted.
Nirmala Sitharaman has said that a call was taken to cooperate seeing the urgency of the matter as Army has its role at the borders.
"Probably first time Army has been asked to come in to build what could otherwise be called civil work. But Elphinstone tragedy was so big, a call was taken to cooperate seeing the urgency of the matter," she had said.
An inquiry report has blamed the heavy rain for the tragedy. The panel, headed by the Western Railway chief security officer, submitted its report to WR General Manager Anil Kumar today after recording statements of 30 commuters who were injured.
The report said people with heavy luggage lost their balance because of which the stampede may have occurred.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "elphinstone-bipin")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}