Calling the short-term recruitment policy "anti-youth and anti-national", Congress said it was "bulldozed through without discussion".
The former Congress chief also thanked party workers for their support during his questioning by ED in National Herald case, and said he was not alone during the questioning but all those fighting for democracy were with him.
Besides him, Bihar Police registered FIRs against the operators of 7 coaching institutes in Patna and other districts. On Monday, Rohtas police arrested a coaching institute owner from Katakat block on the charge of provoking the students for arson.
The scheme, which envisages a four-year term for 75 percent of recruits, was an outcome of a long period of consultation within the three services and the Ministry of Defence besides deliberation among several wings of the government.
Agniveers will be inducted in two batches through 83 recruitment rallies between August and November in different parts of India. Training of 25,000 Agniveers will begin in December, and for the remaining 15,000, training will begin in February, sources said.
A fresh petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking a direction to the Centre for reconsideration of the Agnipath scheme.
The government has projected Agnipath scheme as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to enhance the youthful profile of the services.
Apart from the opportunity for youth to serve in the defence forces, it will make available a very disciplined and trained workforce for industry, including Tata group, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.
The Agnipath Scheme was launched last week on June 14 but ever since its announcement was made, aspirants, and armed forces job seekers, have been protesting against the policy.
Senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay on Monday stoked a fresh controversy by drawing a parallel between German dictator Adolf Hitler and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Modi will die Hitler's death if he follows his path," he said while addressing Congress 'Satyagrah' at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against Rahul Gandhi's grilling by the ED and the Centre's Agnipath scheme.
The Prime Minister's remarks appear to be indirectly centered on the recently launched Centre's new Army recruitment policy which has been criticized mainly by many job aspirants, ex-servicemen, and the opposition, with widespread protests continuing in the country.
The Army said 'Agniveers' would form a distinct rank in the Indian Army that will be different from any other existing ranks and they can be posted to any regiment and unit.
Agnipath: Manish Tewari said that the reforms now being implemented by the government were recommended by the Kargil review committee in 1999.
Agnipath protest: Parts of Delhi witnessed traffic jams as the traffic police closed off several roads due to protests against the new military recruitment scheme and Rahul Gandhi's grilling by ED.
Schools in Jharkhand will remain shut on Monday (today) in view of the bandh called over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, officials said.
The new recruitment scheme was projected by the government as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to enhance the youthful profile of the three services.
The 'Agniveers' would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other areas which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present. No discrimination against them in service conditions, Lt General Anil Puri further said.
The announcements regarding the reservations for 'Agniveers' announced by the different ministries and departments was pre-planned and not in reaction to the recent protests.
Her comments come after violent protests took place against the new military recruitment scheme in many states and the opposition parties stepped up pressure on the Union government for its rollback.
Agitators set ablaze Taregana railway station in Bihar during a bandh on Saturday and vandalised Ludhiana railway station in Punjab, as protesters continued to target railway properties on the fourth day of the stir and blocked roads and rail tracks in several states
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