News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Let’s have a duel: Amit Shah slams COVID-19 vaccine critics in Assam event

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lambasted those who have been criticising the efficacies of COVID-19 vaccines, saying that there should be no politics on public health.

    At a function in Guwahati to extend the benefit of the central health insurance programme to all the armed police forces in India by launching ‘Ayushman CAPF’, Shah urged the personnel to get inoculated when their turn comes.

    “There are some people who are spreading misinformation on vaccine. Come to another platform and let’s have a duel. But why are you creating doubt over people’s health and doing politics? There are other issues for that,” he said.

    Shah said the vaccines developed by Indian scientists are fully safe and the personnel from all forces will be vaccinated after health workers are covered.

    “I appeal to all of you to go for the vaccine when your turn comes. Do not have any doubt over its efficacy. We’ve already launched the world’s biggest vaccination drive,” he said.

    Shah ceremoniously distributed the ‘Ayushman CAPF’ health cards among some personnel from the seven Central Armed Police Forces here.

    He said that the personnel of the CAPFs had three prime concerns — the existing health coverage was not comprehensive, the satisfaction of housing was not there and long duty hours without leaves.

    “Our government is addressing all three concerns. For the health issue, we’ve launched the Ayushman CAPF today. This will give health insurance to around 50 lakh people in 24,000 hospitals, including 14,000 private ones, across the country,” Shah said.

    By May 1, the Ayushman CAPF process will be completed by offering health cards to all the personnel of the seven Central police forces, he added.

    The Union minister said that the government and authorities of forces are trying to increase the satisfaction ratio of the personnel to 55 per cent by 2022 from 36 per cent two years ago, and further take it to 65 per cent by 2024.

    “We’ve completed the examination process for 50,000 recruitments. Now, we’ll start the process again to hire another 50,000 persons in the CAPFs. Our target is one hiring against one departure in five years. With this, everyone will be able to stay at home for 100 days in a year,” he added.

    An MoU was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and Union Home Ministry in presence of Shah, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the CRPF Group Centre in Guwahati.

    Shah said that launching the ambitious scheme on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is a matter of big satisfaction for him and the union government.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that we’ll celebrate Netaji’s birthday as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every year. And today, we’re launching a new scheme for the ‘parakrami’ jawans of the CAPFs. We can’t have a better day than this,” he said.

    Under the initiative ‘Ayushman CAPF’, around 28 lakh personnel from Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Assam Rifles and NSG and their families will be covered by ‘Ayushman Bharat: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (AB PM-JAY).

    CRPF Director General A P Maheshwari expressed his gratitude for bringing the CAPFs under AB PM-JAY scheme.

    The Union home minister also virtually inaugurated Sashastra Seema Bal’s (SSB) 168 quarters, a 10-bedded hospital and an administrative building located at different places of Assam.

  • Ahead of Modi visit, AASU takes out torchlight processions in Assam to protest against CAA

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) on Friday took out torchlight processions pressing for their demands, including scrapping of the Citizenship Amendment Act, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah set foot in the state.

    The AASU is also in favor of repealing the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, and implementation of the report of the Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which safeguards the constitutional rights of indigenous people.

    In Guwahati, police barricaded the AASU headquarters ‘Swahid Bhawan’ and did not allow the protesters to move out with torchlights, but the students’ body staged their protest behind the barriers.

    AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and president Dipanka Kumar Nath were seen engaged in a heated argument with police officers, who said the rally would be allowed if they handed over the torchlights.

    “We refuse to hand over the torchlights as this was a part of our protest program and we will not change it. We, time and again, assured the authorities that our agitation will be non-violent, democratic and peaceful but the BJP government is scared as they failed the people of Assam,” Bhattacharya said.

    He was particularly critical of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was the president of the AASU when Bhattacharya was its general secretary, for sending police to quell the protest.

    “It was from Swahid Bhawan that Sonowal reached the chief minister’s office and now he is sending force to stop democratic and peaceful protests. This is shameful and we condemn this,” he said.

    “AASU had taken out torchlight processions since the Assam movement against foreigners and no dispensation stopped it. This is the first government to take such a step, and this proves that the CM is a coward and his government is afraid of non-violent and democratic protest,” Bhattacharya said.

    The protesters shouted slogans against Modi, Shah, and Sonowal and demanded that the CAA and EIA be repealed along with the implementation of the report of the Clause Six Committee.

    The PM had assured AASU that the recommendations of the committee will be implemented to the “last comma and full stop, but it will be nearly a year now that the report was submitted, and no action has been taken so far”, he alleged.

    “The constitutional safeguard under Clause 6 of Assam Accord is our democratic right and not any charity by the prime minister or the home minister.

    Our protests will continue till these demands are fulfilled,” the AASU leader asserted.

    PM Modi will be arriving in the Sivasagar district on Saturday to launch a special programme of the state government to distribute land ‘patta’ or allotment certificates to over one lakh landless indigenous people.

    Shah is scheduled to visit the state on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, four AASU members were injured in a clash with the police who stopped them from taking out the torchlight procession at Tezpur, following which the district unit of the students organisation called for a 12-hour Sonitpur Bandh, leaders of the students’ body said.

    AASU will stage protests in all district and sub-divisional headquarters by covering their faces with a black cloth during Modi’s visit on Saturday, and observe ‘Black Day’ on January 24 by burning copies of the CAA during the home minister’s visit.

  • Impasse over agri laws: Tomar meets Amit Shah ahead of 11th round of talks with farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A day before the government’s crucial 11th round of talks with protesting farmers, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday night met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah, sources said.

    The meeting followed a statement from the umbrella body of agitating unions, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, that it has rejected the government’s offer to put on hold the three contentious farm laws for one to 1.5 years and set up a joint committee to reach an amicable solution.

    However, some farmer leaders said a final decision is yet to be taken on the proposal and the next course of action will depend on Friday’s meeting with the government.

    Tomar has been leading the government side in the negotiations along with Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab.

    Protesting farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government’s proposal to suspend three farm laws for 18 months, and said they want nothing but a complete repeal of all these contentious legislations.

    “In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today, the proposal put forth by the government yesterday, was rejected. A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement,” the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement.

    “In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today, the proposal put forth by the government yesterday, was rejected.

    A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement,” Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, said in a statement.

    The government, during their tenth round of negotiation with the agitating farmer leaders on Wednesday, proposed to suspend the three farm laws for 1-1.

    5 years and set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution in the interest of the farming community.

    The two sides had also decided to meet again on Friday after the union leaders told the three Central government ministers that they will hold their own internal consultations on Thursday to decide on the Centre’s new proposal.

    During the internal meeting, which lasted for over four hours, the farmers also asserted that they “will not go back to their homes until their demand to repeal the three contentious farm laws is accepted by the government”.

    “The SKM pays homage to the 143 farmers who have been martyred in this movement so far. These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws,” the statement said.

    ALSO READ | Rejection of Modi government’s ‘lollipop’ on farm laws signals farmers’ awakening: Congress

    However, Jagjit Singh Dalewal of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sindhupur), one of the 41 union leaders participating in the negotiations with the government, said a final decision is yet to be taken on the government’s proposal and various union leaders were still discussing the matter.

    While several other farmer leaders said consultations are over and a final decision has been taken to reject the government’s proposal, indicating that the deadlock over the contentious farm laws may continue.

    Meanwhile, the meeting between the protesting unions and police over the January 26 tractor rally remained inconclusive on Thursday as the farmers stuck to their demand to take it out on Delhi’s busy Outer Ring Road.

    “In the meeting held with the police officials, police requested farmers to not conduct the parade in Delhi while the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade on the Outer Ring Road of Delhi,” Morcha said in statement.

    It stated that this peaceful movement is becoming people’s movement and getting nationwide.

    Talking to reporters after the meeting with police, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said police officers wanted farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital, which is not possible.

    “We will carry out our parade peacefully inside Delhi”.

    Sources said that police officers tried to convince protesting farm unions to hold their tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the Outer Ring Road.

    The three laws have already been stayed by the Supreme Court on January 11 till further orders, and the apex court also formed a committee of experts to resolve the deadlock.

    ALSO READ | Government under misconception that only Punjab, Haryana farmers in battle against agri laws: Soren

    The panel has been asked by the apex court to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders.

    The court-appointed panel on Thursday started its consultation process and interacted with 10 farmer organisations from eight states, including Uttar Pradesh.

    Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP (minimum support price) and do away with the “mandi” (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. 

  • Parliamentary panel members raise issue of Twitter locking Shah’s account temporarily in 2020

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Members of a parliamentary committee on Thursday raised the issue of Twitter temporarily locking the account of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2020 as well as misrepresentation of the Indian map by the micro-blogging site, sources said.

    The parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology on Thursday interacted separately with representatives of Facebook, Twitter and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the issue of safeguarding citizens’ rights, preventing misuse of social news media platforms and women security in the digital space.

    During the interaction with Twitter representatives, some members, mostly from the ruling BJP, raised the issue of the platform locking the account of Shah for a short period late last year, sources said after the meeting.

    Some BJP members questioned the fact-checking mechanism at Twitter and wondered how the account of country’s home minister was locked.

    Twitter had then said that Shah’s account was temporarily locked due to an “inadvertent error” and the decision was reversed immediately.

    Shah’s Twitter display picture was removed by Twitter in response to a “report from the copyright holder”.

    Committee members also flagged the issue of Twitter misrepresenting the Indian map, a member said.

    When some members asked the basis of on which Twitter was removing contents and blocking accounts the company representatives said they want to create a “healthy platform”.

    But some members were not satisfied and sought details on how decisions were made to block some accounts and leave others, a member said.

  • Meghalaya government seeks to meet Shah during his Shillong visit for NEC session

    By PTI
    SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has sought an appointment for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the state for chairing the 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council on January 23.

    The decision was taken at a special cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday.

    “We have decided that an appointment will be sought by the MDA government for meeting the Union Home Minister on January 23. His office will confirm to us where we can meet him separately,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters.

    Tynsong said that the delegation of the MDA government will flag before the Home Minister pending issues such as the resolutions on Inner Line Permit (ILP) and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution.

    Besides, the delegation would also raise issues related to the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

    Asked if NGOs will be allowed to meet Shah, the deputy CM said, “Officially we have received a few applications from the NGOs and now arrangement is being made for an appointment of the NGOs with the Union Home Minister.”

    Meanwhile, Tynsong also said that elaborate security arrangements have been made ahead of Shah’s visit to the state.

    “Police have already taken care of all this so everything is already in place,” he stated.

    Earlier, NEC secretary K Moses Chalai called on the chief minister in his office.

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch Ayushman CAPF healthcare scheme on January ​23

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to launch the Ayushman healthcare scheme for central paramilitary force personnel in Assam later this week, official sources said.

    They said Shah will hand over the first Ayushman health cards to the chiefs, a sub-officer and a jawan of each of the central armed police forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB apart from the NSG and the Assam Rifles that function under the command of his ministry on January 23.

    The CAPFs, with an estimated manpower of about 10 lakh personnel, are deployed for rendering a variety of internal security duties across the country, border guarding and VIP protection.

    “The Ayushman CAPF health scheme is expected to be launched by the home minister on January 23 in Guwahati. A presentation on the scheme will be made and the minister may address the beneficiaries too during the event,” a senior official involved in the process told PTI.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), termed as the biggest government-sponsored healthcare scheme across the globe, in September, 2018.

    The scheme provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families (about 53 crore beneficiaries).

    AB PM-JAY also provides cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiaries at the point of service.

  • EPS meets Amit Shah in Delhi amid alliance whispers

    By Express News Service
    CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Barely two months after the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s high-octane visit to Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami called on him in New Delhi on Monday. The two leaders are learnt to have discussed the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

    The 45-minute meeting is under a lot of political glare because there has been no progress from the BJP top brass after the surprise announcement made by Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, during Shah’s November 21 Chennai visit, that the AIADMK alliance with the BJP would continue.

    Palaniswami was accompanied by Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar at Monday’s meeting, in which Chief Secretary K Shanmugam and Chief Minister’s secretaries were also present. It could not be ascertained whether Palaniswami held a one-on-one discussion with Shah.

    The Chief Minister is, however, scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at 10.30 am.Sources said Palaniswami is likely to invite Modi to the State to inaugurate a slew of projects.

    On its part, the BJP has also been planning to schedule a few high profile visits to Tamil Nadu, ahead of the elections, as the party is keen to throw its hat in the ring in a good number of seats as part of its strategy to keep the DMK at bay.

    Meanwhile in Chennai, Pannerselvam, who is also the party coordinator, used a party meeting, held to discuss the arrangements for the celebration of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary on February 24, to give a pep talk to members.

    At the meeting, termed Amma Peravai (Amma’s birthday), Panneerselvam, said: “Issues are bound to happen even in families with just two or three siblings. The AIADMK has nearly 1.5 crore cadre. We have to set aside our differences and work for the party’s victory in the upcoming elections, because our only objective is to re-establish the AIADMK government after the polls.”

    “That would be an appropriate tribute to our Amma (J Jayalalithaa),” added Panneerselvam.

  • Union Minister Amit Shah says farm laws will be implemented soon, assures doubling of farmers income

    Express News Service
    BAGALKOT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government top priority is to double the income of farmers with the implementation of three new farm laws.”

    Shah was addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for expansion of 75,000 TCD sugar complex, 260 MW Co-generation and 26 lakh kilo liters per day Ethanol, Bio CNG and CO2 production plants of MRN (Nirani) Group of Industries at Kerakalamatti village near Badami.

    While the talks between the central government and farmers, protesting against the implementation of three new farm laws at New Delhi nearly two months, failed to see a happy end as farmers remained firm on their demands. Shah reiterated that, “There is no question of repealing the farm laws. These farm laws, which are aimed at enriching the lives of farmers with strengthening them financially, will be implemented in the coming days.”

    When BJP announced that it will double the income of farmers by 2022 – the leaders of Congress laughed at us. But, now, we are inching towards achieving our goal of bringing new laws in the farming sector, Shah added, “Congress is an anti-farmer party. It is indulging in cheap politics by misleading the farmers about the new farm laws. Congress has not done anything for the welfare of farmers in its regime. It has no right to speak about the farmers,” slammed Union Home Minister.

    ALSO READ| In message to detractors and Opposition, Amit Shah backs BS Yediyurappa’s leadership

    Taking a dig at Congress, Shah pointed that, “When Congress was at the helm of affairs, it used to announce merely around Rs 21,000 crore for the agriculture sector in its annual budget. After PM Modi took office – the budget for the agriculture sector has increased to over Rs 1 lakh crore.”

    “Apart from this under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Saman Yojana annually Rs 6,000 is being credited directly to each farmers’ account. Under this scheme approximately 9 crore farmers are being benefited. We are spending over Rs 1.10 lakh every fiscal year for one scheme aimed to benefit farmers, which is five times the Congress budget for agriculture. This clearly shows who are more committed towards the welfare of farmers,” reiterated Shah.

    Stress on Ethanol Production

    The PM Modi led union government is aimed at increasing the production of ethanol by 25 per cent by 2025. After BJP came to power in order to encourage the production of ethanol – the central tax was waved and the tax slab was brought down to 5 per cent from 18 per cent and changed policies like to permit production of ethanol by decomposed or stale dishes. The main aim of stressing the production of ethanol is to bring down the usage of petroleum products, stated Shah.

    He pointed that, “Government is spending a substantial amount on importing petroleum products from gulf countries. With an objective of cutting down this expenditure the government plans to augment the ethanol production for self-reliance in the fuel sector. The revenue which would be saved from importing petroleum products will be utilized for the welfare of farmers,” added the Union Home Minister.  

    Applauded CM

    Union Minister Shah applauded the performance of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, he said that, “Yediyurappa has not left out a single chance to develop the farmers of this state. He even followed the schemes of the union government and implemented the same in his government. We are happy with his performance. The union government will provide all the necessary assistance for the development of the state. Under the leadership of PM Modi will work towards making the country Atmanirbhar (self-reliance),” stated Shah. Shah expressed his gratitude to the people of Karnataka for showing support to BJP in the parliament elections in 2019.

    Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, DCM Govind Karjol, Ministers Basavaraj Bomai, Jagadish Shettar B C Patil, Murugesh Nirani, Shashikala Jolle, MPs Karadi Sanganna, Ramesh Jiagjinagi and P C Gaddigoudar and MLA A S Patil Nadahalli and MLC Hanumanth Nirani were present. Over 35,000 farmers participated in the event.

  • Doubling farmers income biggest priority of Narendra Modi government: Amit Shah

    By PTI
    BAGALKOTE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said doubling farmers income was the biggest priority of the Narendra Modi government and that the three central farm laws would ensure manifold hike in their earnings.

    He said that since coming to power, the Modi government had increased the budget for the farm sector and also the minimum support price (MSP) for various crops. “I want to say that if there is any big priority of the Narendra Modi government it is to double the farmers income,” he said at an event in Kerakalmatti village in this district in Karnataka.

    Speaking after laying the foundation stone and inauguration of farmer-friendly projects of the MRN group, headed by newly inducted Karnataka Minister Murugesh R Nirani, Shah listed out various programmes and initiatives of the central government for the welfare of the farmers.

    Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa led BJP government in the state too has not left any stone unturned to work for the welfare of farmers, the Home Minister said. He added that if there was any government that was in the forefront of implementing central schemes and programmes in the country, it was the government here.

    Questioning the Congress as to why it could not take up measures like Rs 6,000 cash support per year for farmers and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana insurance scheme among others, he said, it was because the party’s intentions were not right.

    “The Narendra Modi government is a government dedicated to farmers. Three new laws that the Modi government has brought in, which the Karnataka government has also passed…I want to congratulate Yediyurapp for it. Farmer’s income will increase multifold due to them,” he said.

    His remarks came amid the continuing agitation by farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, on the borders of Delhi, demanding the repeal of the three laws. The Home Minister added that farmers were not compelled anymore to sell their produce at one place and can get access to global and Indian markets of choice for their crops.

    Shah also said none had the courage to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and Article 35A in Kashmir in the past 70 years. “You made Modi the Prime Minister and on August 5, 2019 he ended Article 370 and Article 35A from Kashmir and connected it with India permanently. Today elections have also happened there peacefully without shedding even a drop of blood and Kashmir has become ours permanently,” he added.

    Pointing out that the projects of the MRN group included expansion of ethanol unit, Shah said, the Modi government was giving impetus to promote ethanol production and usage as it will benefit farmers, environment and economy.

    ALSO READ| In message to detractors and Opposition, Amit Shah backs BS Yediyurappa’s leadership

    “Most of our foreign exchange gets spent on oil – petrol and diesel – imports, and an alternative to it is ethanol which is a byproduct of sugarcane…. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given impetus to increasing production of ethanol and its use as it will increase farmers income, get profit for sugar mills and save foreign exchange,” he said.

    Shah also asked people to continue their “support and blessing” for the BJP and Modi so as to continue with the agenda of making “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

    Expressing gratitude to the people of the state for supporting the Modi-led BJP in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and ensuring strong leadership for the country, he said, “whenever our workers come to you whether it is assembly or Lok Sabha or recently concluded panchayat polls, you have blessed us.

  • India under PM Modi has fought most successful battle against coronavirus in the world: Amit Shah 

    By PTI
    BHADRAVATHI: India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fought the most successful battle against coronavirus in the world, and with the beginning of the vaccination drive, the country has taken the fight against the pandemic to a final stage,Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

    “The whole world for about a year has been fighting against corona, many people have lost lives. This was probably one of the toughest fights that humanity has fought, using knowledge, innovations and mutual cooperation,” Shah said.

    Speaking after laying the foundation stone of a new battalion campus of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) here, he said he was happy to state that India under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has fought the most successful battle against COVID-19 in the world.

    Noting that during the initial days of the outbreak, some experts had expressed worry about a few countries, including India, on how they will manage with a huge population and not so prepared heath infrastructure, Shah said there was only lab in the country that could underake testing for the infection.

    “Today we have more than 2,000,” he said. The main difference in the fight that India fought against the virus compared to the rest of the world is that the entire population of the country fought it with unity, he said, as he claimed that India has less fatality rate and high recovery rate.

    “Today with two vaccines produced in the country, we have taken the fight against corona to the final stage,” he said, even as he defended the decision to administer the vaccine to frontline warriors, and hit out those spreading misinformation on it.

    Earlier, Shah laid the foundation stone of a new battalion campus of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) near Bhadravathi in Shivamogga district in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, among others.

    The Karnataka government has provided a 50.29-acre land for the headquarters of the 97th battalion of the RAF, the blue dungaree wearing special anti-riots wing of the Central Reserve Police Force.

    The campus will have a hospital, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, family quarters for troops, administrative building, family welfare centre, sports facilities including a stadium and swimming pool.

    A total of 1,270 troops of the newly raised 97th RAF battalion, including 106 women personnel, will be based here, officials said.

    The battalion will have jurisdiction over a number of districts in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Puducherry for deployment by Centre to deal with any communal incidents, protests, riots or events that involve huge congregations, they said.

    Shah thanked Yediyurappa for taking the initiative and giving the land for a new battalion campus of RAF that is coming up at a cost of Rs 230 crore.

    He assured the people of Bhadravathi that the central school and the stadiums that will come up will be designed in such a way that local people can also use the facilities.