Centre's decision to rope in army to help rebuild the footover bridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone Station which witnessed the deaths of over 20 pedestrians in a stampede barely a month ago has not gone down well with many.
National Conference Party leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said it seems like the Indian Army is the first number at speed dial.
"The army was to be a measure of last resort to be called upon in extreme emergency. Now it seems like it’s the 1st number on the speed dial," he tweeted.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis together with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today said the Army will help construct the footover bridge at Elphinstone and two other suburban train stations in Mumbai.
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Sitharaman said it was probably the "first time that the Army will come in to build in what could otherwise be called civil work".
President of Mumbai Congress Committee Sanjay Nirupam said the decision underlines failure of 'corrupt Shiv Sena BJP ruled BMC'.
"Calling Army to make a bridge in Mumbai underlines failure of Corrupt Shiv Sena BJP ruled BMC. Hope army wl not b asked to fill potholes here (sic)," he tweeted.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also took to twitter and said army cannot be used for civilian work.
Tagging Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Singh said, "The Army's job is to train for war, not to be used for civilian works, @nsitharaman ji.Don’t divert defence resources to civilian jobs"
