Agnipath: Tri-services explain new recruitment scheme as states witness comparative lull after stormy protests

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday charged that the Congress was fanning the agitation across the country against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme, which was "evident" from Khanapur Congress MLA Anjali Nimbalkar staging a sit-in demonstration. Defending the Agnipath scheme, Bommai said it is a novel initiative that is prevalent in other parts of the world.

Stepping up its attack on the Centre, the Congress on Sunday held a 'Satyagraha' here in support of those protesting the government's Agnipath scheme with party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urging the youth to recognise "fake nationalists" and ensure that a new government is formed in the country which shows "real patriotism".

Angry job aspirants, who have hit the streets in Bihar to protest against the Centre's newly introduced 'Agnipath' scheme, said their dreams of joining the armed forces have been shattered with the announcement of the short-term contractual recruitment programme and urged the government to realise why job seekers are frustrated with it. The Centre must understand the pain that the unemployed youths of the country are going through, said Vikas Ranjan, one of the hundreds of job aspirants who have been demonstrating against the scheme.

BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday attacked Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the latter's comments against the Centre's Agnipath military recruitment scheme, especially the assertion that youths trained in weapons could turn to crime after completion of their four-year tenure. He said such comments insult the 32 lakh ex-servicemen in the country, and dared Baghel to name one soldier who is involved in illegal activities.

BJP leader Sambit Patra spoke on the Agnipath scheme on Sunday. He slammed the Congress party, and said that "politics is going on at Delhi's Jantar Mantar". He also said that Indian Army should be youthful.

This reform was long pending. We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawan are in their 30s& officers are getting command much later than in the past: Additional Secy Lt Gen Anil Puri, Dept of Military Affairs on Agnipath scheme

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday urged the government not to be "stubborn" and immediately withdraw the new military recruitment scheme Agnipath for wider consultations to avoid a repeat of the farm laws episode.

The Indian Air Force on Sunday came out with details of the Agnipath scheme for short-term induction of soldiers amid widespread protests in several states by defence job aspirants demanding the withdrawal of the new model.

The youth protesting against the Agnipath scheme are those who are unaware of its benefits to them as well as the Indian armed forces, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Sunday and urged them to withdraw from their agitation.

Department of Military Affairs Additional Secretary Lt General Anil Puri to address a press conference in South Block today on the issue of Agniveer recruitment scheme.

On Saturday, the defence minister held a second review meet as the protests intensified against the new defence recruitment scheme.

States like Bihar are burning for the last four days due to the sudden announcement by the Narendra Modi government of the new military recruitment scheme - Agnipath. Experts believe that the Centre had not fully discussed the consequences of such a scheme which is related to the future of the country's youth.

The Indian Air Force on Sunday released the details of the Agnipath recruitment scheme amid the ongoing agitation and widespread protests against the scheme across several states.

The Centre on Saturday announced several incentives including 10 per cent reservation in vacancies in the defence ministry and paramilitary forces for Agnipath retirees as it tried to defuse the violent protests that raged on against the new military recruitment scheme in many states and the opposition parties stepped up pressure for a rollback.

Police in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh have so far taken around 80 people in custody in connection with the violent protests in the district against the Centre's Agnipath scheme. Of those held since the protests on Friday, 35 people, including nine operators of coaching institutes, were arrested for their role in the violence, Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said.

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to "immediately" roll back the Agnipath scheme and resume the regular process of recruitment for defence services for the current year, saying the new recruitment plan has "justifiably" caused "great anguish" among the potential recruits across the country.

Amid widespread protests against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme in Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said there were many doubts about the scheme in the minds of the youth and demanded that it be withdrawn. Addressing a press conference here, he asked whether this was a MGNREGA-like initiative for the educated youth or there was a "hidden agenda" of the RSS in it. Yadav also appealed to the youth to protest peacefully against the scheme.

The protests against the Centre’s 'Agnipath' scheme that envisages recruitment of soldiers on a short-term contractual basis, triggered a fresh war of words between the two ruling allies - the BJP and the JD(U) - with the former holding the Nitish Kumar government responsible for its "inability to stop attacks" on the residences of saffron party leaders.

Youth have many doubts about Agnipath; govt must withdraw scheme: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav