Agnipath protests: Congress, NCP, AAP demand rollback of recruitment scheme

The Congress and NCP in Maharashtra and AAP demanded the Central government to rollback the Agnipath scheme as protests escalated across the country.

Pic courtesy: PTI

Violence against Agnipath scheme rocked Secunderabad railway station on Friday (June 17) as hundreds of youth set afire a train and vandalised the station. The protesters went on rampage at the station, setting afire East Coast Express, stalls and other railway property. In Bihar, protests continued for the second consecutive day as protestors disrupted the movement of trains in various districts of the state. The movement of trains was affected as agitating protestors chose to voice their concerns by sitting on the railway tracks. Roads were also blocked at many places. During the protest, a tyre was burnt on the railway track.

This scheme entails a recruitment process for individuals with ranks below that of officers, with the goal of deploying fitter, younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four-year contracts. It's envisioned as a game-changer that will give the Army, Navy, and Air Force a more youthful image. But many people, including politicians, have said that the Centre’s new scheme is unfair and would end up depriving the recruited personnel of various monetary benefits, while only 25% of the recruits will have a future in the Armed forces at the end of the four-year period. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has assured that while recruiting Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF),  Aginveers will be prioritised.

17 June 2022

22:51 IST

Kolkata: Due to student agitation against Agnipath scheme in East Central Railway jurisdiction, five more trains, all originating from Howrah stands cancelled on June 18: CPRO Eastern Railway (ANI)

22:10 IST

Uttar Pradesh: Ballia District Magistrate has imposed section 144 prohibiting assembly of people for the next two months. (PTI)

20:52 IST

Govt has brought the Agnipath scheme with the right intentions, maybe some people are agitating due to misunderstanding. Govt is responsive to issues of citizens and today the age has been raised to 23. We're considerate of their issues: MoS MEA V Muraleedharan (ANI)

20:51 IST

Agnipath protests | Due to agitation, 94 Mail Express trains and 140 passenger trains were cancelled; 65 Mail Express and 30 Passenger Trains were partially cancelled; 11 Mail Express trains were diverted. Total 340 trains were affected: Indian Railways (ANI)

18:25 IST

Internet services will remain temporarily suspended in Kaimer, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxer, Nawada, West Champaran, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Vaishali and Saran districts from today till 19th June: Bihar govt (ANI)

17:59 IST

I want to tell people to not protest and not be violent. They should understand the scheme and remain peaceful. This is a great opportunity for the youth to serve the country...: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Agnipath scheme (ANI)

#WATCH I want to tell people to not protest & not be violent. They should understand the scheme and remain peaceful. This is a great opportunity for the youth to serve the country...: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Agnipath scheme pic.twitter.com/YwhKJ9EAK9

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022

The Agnipath scheme is a transformational scheme. It is a made in India and a made for India scheme: Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar

17:04 IST

Buses targeted while attempts were made to vandalize them on Waziarabad road in North-east Delhi's Khajuri area as people protested against Agnipath scheme. Police reached the spot & controlled the situation. Case of riot being filed against miscreants: Delhi Police (ANI)

15:54 IST

Agnipath Protests

I appeal to the youth to not indulge in violent protests and not damage the property of the Railways. Railways are the property of the country: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (ANI)

15:47 IST

Once 4 yrs are over, 'Agniveers' will be having a 12 lakh economic package to start afresh. Priority will be given to them for loans, educational courses, CAPF...Opposition is misleading students & their goons are destroying public property: Bihar Deputy CM Renu Devi (ANI)

15:47 IST

We received info about protests at 17 locations so far. At two of these places, in Ballia & Aligarh, incidents of arson occurred. In Ballia, hooligans set ablaze a (train) compartment that was in the washing pit: Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar (ANI)

15:23 IST

Haryana: Police chased away protesters who were agitating in Narnaul against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. Protest was also held at Hero Honda Chowk. (ANI)

We are trying to pacify them. They are violating Section 144 CrPC that has been imposed here: Narnaul DSP, Narender Kumar pic.twitter.com/dIGCVTT28u

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022

15:22 IST

Jattari Police Station building and a police vehicle were set ablaze by protesters in Aligarh. (ANI)

#WATCH Jattari Police Station building and a police vehicle were set ablaze by protesters in Aligarh#AgnipathProtests pic.twitter.com/WFPI7CVQuE

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 17, 2022

14:56 IST

A school bus, with children on board, got stuck in the road blockade by agitators in Darbhanga. The bus later managed to get out of the blockade with Police intervention. The agitators were protesting against the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

#WATCH | Bihar: A school bus, with children on board, got stuck in the road blockade by agitators in Darbhanga. The bus later managed to get out of the blockade with Police intervention.

The agitators were protesting against the #AgnipathRecruitmentScheme pic.twitter.com/E8lFLk9leD

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022

14:54 IST

As the Central government is yet to announce the official date of commencement of the Agnipath scheme, Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande on Friday said that the training of first Agniveers will begin in December 2022 and the active service will commence in the middle of 2023. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, the Indian Army chief said, "Recruitment process is going to begin soon. Within the next two days, a notification will be issued on the official website. After that our Army recruitment organisations will declare a detailed schedule of registration and rally... As far as the question of Agniveers going to recruitment training centres is concerned, the training of first Agniveers will begin this December (in 2022) at the centres. The active service will commence in the middle of 2023," he added. Notably, Covid-19 halted the Army`s recruitment for over two years.

14:53 IST

Protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme spread to Odisha on Friday as hundreds of aspirants for recruitment in the Armed Forces blocked the arterial Ring Road in Cuttack and tore down hoardings in Cantonment area of Cuttack.

14:52 IST

Protestors agitating at Bihar's Hajijpur railway station against 'Agnipath' a recruitment scheme were detained on Friday, said the police

14:51 IST

Entry and exit gates of some Delhi Metro stations were closed on Friday as members of the Left-affiliated All India Students' Association protested against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and demanded its rollback. In a series of tweets, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation alerted commuters about the closure of gates of stations due to "security reasons".

14:51 IST

Lauding the government's decision to raise the upper age limit for recruitment under the 'Agnipath' scheme to 23 years from 21 for this year, BJP president J P Nadda said Friday that it shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully seized of the concerns of the country's youth and is making efforts for their bright future.

13:55 IST

Widespread protests against the 'Agnipath' scheme for the recruitment of armed forces have spread to several districts in Uttar Pradesh. Bulandshahr, Meerut, Agra, Mathura, Varanasi, Unnao, Gorakhpur, Gonda, Rae Bareli and Ballia are among the districts that have witnessed protests, with youth demanding the scheme's withdrawal.

13:51 IST

Several students along with the members of All India Students' Association (AISA), Chatr-Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) and Aam Aadmi Party's student wing on Friday staged a protest over the Central government's 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and demanded its rollback. Holding placards, the students raised slogans against the government and sat on the road in between the old Delhi Police headquarters and Gate No 5 of the ITO Delhi Metro Station.

13:35 IST

Army chief General Manoj Pande said that he thinks that "the youth does not know all the proper information on the Agnipath Scheme. Once they get to know about the scheme, they will have faith that this scheme is not only for the youth but is also beneficial to all."

13:31 IST

In an attempt to assuage the concerns of young people agitating against the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the new model is a "golden opportunity" for those wanting to join the country's defence system. He said the government's decision to increase the upper age limit from 21 years to 23 years for recruitment under the scheme in 2022 will allow a significant number of youths to join the armed forces.

13:27 IST

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the decision to raise the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 for candidates under the 'Agnipath' scheme for 2022 will benefit those who have fallen out of the age bracket to join the armed forces. Gadkari in a tweet said that empowering youth power is the topmost priority of the Modi government, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. "The decision to relax the age limit from 21 years to 23 years for candidates of Agnipath Yojana, will benefit those who have fallen out of the age bracket to join the armed forces. Gratitude to Hon'ble PM on this move," he said.

12:35 IST

A total of 200 train services have been affected due to the ongoing agitation; 35 train services stand cancelled while 13 have been short terminated, throughout the country, reports ANI.

12:17 IST

Agnipath Row: Mobile internet, SMS suspended in Faridabad's Ballabgarh

Following violent protests in Palwal against the Agnipath scheme, Haryana government has suspended mobile internet and SMS services for 24 hours in Ballabhgarh area of Faridabad district as a precautionary measure. The order, which was issued by the Home department and came into effect after 12 am on Friday, led to the suspension of mobile internet services, all SMS services, including bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks to maintain law and order and prevent the spread of rumours, officials said.

12:14 IST

The Centre's decision to increase the upper age limit for joining the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence services will benefit a large number of youth, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday. "The recruitment process in the Army was affected due to the corona pandemic for the last two years, so Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji has taken a sensitive decision, showing concern for the youth, to give them two years concession in the age limit from 21 years to 23 years in the first year of Agnipath scheme," Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.
A large number of youth will benefit by this decision. Through the Agnipath scheme, they will move forward in the service to the country and their bright future, he said. "I thank @narendramodi ji," he added.

12:09 IST

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday demanded the Central government to withdraw the 'Agnipath' scheme with immediate effect following protests in parts of the country over the scheme. The Congress leader took on her Twitter handle and posted in Hindi, "Not even 24 hours have passed within which the BJP government had to change the rules of new army recruitment scheme. It means that the plan is being imposed on the youth in a hurry. PM Narendra Modi ji, please withdraw this scheme immediately. At first, you should give an appointment (letters) and result in the recruitment of the Air Force. Do army recruitment (with age relaxation) as before."

24 घंटे भी नहीं बीते कि भाजपा सरकार को नई आर्मी भर्ती का नियम बदलना पड़ा

मतलब, योजना जल्दबाजी में युवाओं पर थोपी जा रही है@narendramodi जी

इस स्कीम को तुरंत वापस लीजिए

एयरफोर्स की रुकी भर्तियों में नियुक्ति और रिजल्ट दीजिए।

सेना भर्ती को (आयु में छूट देकर) पहले की तरह कीजिए

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 17, 2022

12:07 IST

The residence of Bihar's Deputy CM Renu Devi, in Bettiah, was attacked by agitators during their protest against Agnipath Scheme. Her son told news agency ANI, "Our residence in Bettiah was attacked. We suffered a lot of damage. She (Renu Devi) is in Patna."

12:06 IST

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand what the people of the country want as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his "friends". He said this a day after the government raised the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment under 'Agnipath', amid protests by youth in several parts of the country against the scheme.

12:05 IST

East Central Railway issues helpline numbers for the following Railway Stations, amidst the protests over the recently launched #AgnipathScheme pic.twitter.com/ADWdcA3EER

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022

12:04 IST

The protest against the Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme relating to recruitment in the armed forces spread to the South on Friday when unidentified miscreants went on the rampage at the Secunderabad Railway station, setting on fire a parcel coach of a passenger train. The agitators shouted slogans against the Centre demanding normal recruitment of army jobs, South Central Railway sources said. The agitators, numbering about 300-350, pelted stones and set a parcel coach of a passenger train on fire, they said. Some stalls in the railway station suffered damage, they said.

12:04 IST

In Bihar, protests continued for the second consecutive day as protestors on Friday disrupted the movement of trains in various districts of the state. In the Begusarai district, the agitated youth blocked the Rajbara Gumti road. The movement of trains was affected as agitating protestors chose to voice their concerns by sitting on the railway tracks. Roads were also blocked at many places. During the protest, a tyre was burnt on the railway track.

12:03 IST

Roadways buses were vandalised in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad on Friday as mobs protesting against the `Agnipath` scheme went on rampage. Youths protesting against the short-term contract scheme in armed forces, pelted stones and damaged government properties.