The radical recruitment scheme has perhaps met with an equally rebellious response. However, after the second high-level meet chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on Sunday, the message sent out by the government stands clear: the scheme will not be rolled back.
Bolstered by tri-services chief as a “long pending” and much-needed reform, the youth for whose future it was purportedly drawn up, has sent out its message too: “arthi ya vardi.”
Meanwhile Secunderabad violence “mastermind” has been arrested, and the police in Bihar are cracking down heavily on coaching centers, with “social media messages” leading the trail, according to authorities. In Uttar Pradesh, law enforcing agencies are investigating the “anti-socials” behind the train torchings.
Sunday morning saw Priyanka Gandhi at a Agnipath sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar today to protest the scheme that has sparked massive protests across the country. Among other Congress leaders present were Jairam Ramesh, Rajiv Shukla, Sachin Pilot, Salman Khurshid and Alka Lamba.
Addressing the Congress’s Satyagraha on the burning issue, she urged the protesters to continue their agitation peacefully and “topple” the government. “This scheme will kill the youth of the country, will finish the Army. Please note the intent of this government. Topple it through democratic, peaceful and non-violent means. Your objective should be to bring a government that is true to the nation and protects the country’s assets. I urge you to protest peacefully, but don’t stop. These are your rights, this is your country and it is your duty to protect it. Every leader and worker of the Congress is with you,” she said.
For the navy, the first lot of ‘Agniveers’ will reach INS Chilka in Odisha for training by November 21. The Air Force will enrol the first batch of Agniveers by December this year and training will begin the same month. While women candidates are eligible for the IAF and Navy, the Army is open only to male Agniveers.
“We had lengthy discussions on how to make our forces young. We studied foreign forces too. We want young people. Youth are risk takers, they have passion, josh aur hosh in equal proportions,” said Lt. General Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. The General said any candidate who faces a police case cannot apply for Agnipath. “The Agnipath scheme will not be rolled back. Why should it be rolled back?” he said.
The top military officer said the COVID-19 pandemic and the long lockdown allowed the planners to finally make the move to the ‘Agnipath’ scheme. “There could have been no better time to implement the Agnipath scheme. This was the least painful time (for the switch),” he added.
Also Read: Agni Pariksha: 1 Dead, 12 Trains Burnt, India On The Boil
