'Rebel' ex-don wants to arm youth with weapons to 'change system'

A self-proclaimed reformer who also happens to be a former underworld don has taken upon him to wage a war against corruption by arming the youth with "deadly weapons."

Kanakapura-based former gangster Agni Sridhar said, “We need to change the system. To accomplish this, I’ll train the youth to wage a war against the system by arming them with deadly weapons.”

Cultural-linguistic organisation Karunaada Sene yesterday appointed Sridhar as its state president. 

Speaking to the press at the Bangalore Press Club, Sridhar said that the government had failed to provide security to its people resulting in a chaotic society which has been split in the name of caste and religion.

He also challenged the government to take legal action against him for making a bold statement at the press meet. 

Speaking about his political plans, he said, “I’ll campaign for my people but will not involve in active politics.” 

He has also called for a state-level conference of workers on July 16 at the Town Hall in Bengaluru.

Known for his rebellious statements, Agni Sridhar had once said that the Gandhian ideas misguided the nation. He said, “We don't have to worship the Bhagavadgita just because Mahatma Gandhi worshiped it. One day I shall burn the Bhagavad Gita in public.” 

Call it an irony, Sridhar writes a regular column 'Gautama Buddha' (the preacher of non-violence) for weekly tabloid Agni.