New Delhi: Protests against the Centre’s radical recruitment strategy for the armed services, dubbed ‘Agnipath,’ have intensified on the third day. Several rail services across the country have been cancelled as a result of mobs setting trains on fire in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Telangana. Meanwhile, internet service has been suspended in 12 Bihar districts and three Haryana districts.
On Tuesday, the government launched the Agnipath i.nitiative, which it described as “transformative” and aimed at recruiting personnel for the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a four-year short-term contract basis. Following the objections, the age limit for Agnipath recruitment has been raised to 23 from 21 as a one-time waiver.
Siddaramaiah Demands That The ‘Agnipath’ Scheme Be Abandoned In A Live Protest
In the aftermath of violent protests in parts of the country by aspirants wishing to join the armed services, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has urged the Centre to scrap the Agnipath programme of hiring military personnel as ‘Agniveers’ for a four-year term. He urged the administration should not play with the security forces to hide the government’s bankruptcy in a series of tweets. (PTI)
Some parties are misleading the youth about the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, according to a minister.
While violent protests against the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruiting plan erupted across multiple states on Friday, Union minister and BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar said that some political parties were attempting to “mislead” youths on the topic. He described the scheme as a “significant overhaul” in the defence forces’ recruitment process that was implemented after 75 years of independence. (PTI)
In Delhi, student groups stage a protest against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme.
Activists from a number of student organisations, including the left-wing AISA, held a protest in Delhi today against the Agnipath recruiting programme, calling it “disastrous.” According to the All India Students’ Association, the proposal is really a plan to eliminate permanent posts in the military services. Several of its members were “brutally imprisoned,” according to AISA and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). (PTI)
Giriraj Singh Attacks Lalu Yadav’s Party Over ‘Agnipath’ Protests Violence
BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh today criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for burning and violence, saying the Opposition party will have to answer for its acts, amid widespread protests in Bihar against the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruiting scheme. He also asked state governments to identify non-students participating in protests, alleging that some political parties have used students as a shield to destroy public property. “Biharis are dying as a result of the RJD’s enraged protests, which include the burning of public property. Bihar would have to answer to the RJD “Mr Singh, a member of Parliament from Begusarai, said as much.
