Delhi: June 19: Protests against the government’s new Agnipath Scheme entered their 5th day. In between, the government has made several announcements to satisfy the protesters.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to reserve 10% of the job vacancies in the Ministry of Defence for Agniveers meeting requisite eligibility criteria. The 10% reservation will be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard, defence civilian posts and all the 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10 percent vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers, completing four years under the Agnipath Scheme announced by the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
In a series of tweets, the Home Minister’s Office said that “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers, completing four years under the Agnipath Scheme announced by the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi”.
It also said that “The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.”
But, Protesters are in no mood to stop it. They have demanding to scrap the scheme. Political Parties like Congress, AAP and RJD, are also in favour of scraping the scheme.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the Congress protest at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday against the central government’s new scheme ‘Agnipath’. Several Congress leaders also joined the protest.
Priyanka Gandhi said, “You dream to get into the army, you dream to die on the border, no one is a greater patriot than you, just recognize the fake patriots. See the intention of the government, whatever protest you do, do it peacefully, but do not stop, do not get tired, every soldier of the Congress is with you.”
Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported the stir and called for the Army recruitment process to be withdrawn.
Speaking on the scheme, Lt Gen Anil Puri said, ‘This scheme has been designed for youth. By going to the streets, they are only wasting their time. They should spend this time to get themselves ready physically. I appeal to them to start preparing’.
Lt Gen Puri asserted during the press briefing that the Armed Forces’ foundation is in its discipline.
“No space for arson, vandalism. Every individual will give a written pledge that they were not part of protest or vandalism. Police verification is mandatory, no one can join without that,” he warned.
