Army is not for civil work: Kharge

Targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its proclamation of using army to build new foot-over-bridge at Elphinstone Station, Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge stated that army is for maintaining peace at borders, not for civil work.

Speaking to ANI here, Kharge said, "Army is being used to maintain peace at the Indian borders. But if it is used in the civil works, then all the departments and state will also ask for its help in all kinds of small construction works."

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the army will build the new foot-over-bridge at Elphinstone Station, where 23 people were killed in the stampede last month.

Sitharaman cited that as Elphinstone tragedy was so big, a call was taken to cooperate, seeing urgency of the matter.

Earlier, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has informed that the army will help construct three bridges, including the Elphinstone Bridge, which will be completed by January 31.