Protest amid Agnipath scheme!
In view of the new Agnipath scheme, a nationwide protest has been witnessed throughout the country. The Centre on Saturday announced a 10 per cent reservation for Agniveers in the recruitment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also decided to give three years of age relaxation in its 17.5-21 years eligibility criteria for recruitment of Agniveers in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. Notably, the first batch of Agniveers will get a relaxation of five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.
One person was killed in police firing in Telangana's Secunderabad, trains were torched, and railway stations and highways turned into battlegrounds as youth fury over the Agnipath recruitment scheme blazed in several states on Friday.
The Centre unveiled Agnipath on Tuesday, under which most soldiers will leave service in just four years — 45,000 to 50,000 aspirants will be recruited annually but only 25 percent will be allowed to continue for another 15 years under permanent commission.
The protesters are demanding a rollback of the short-term recruitment scheme, as they are unhappy with the length of service, no pension provisions for those released early and the 17.5 to 21-year age restriction that now makes many of them ineligible.
In Bihar, the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi was attacked in the West Champaran district. Later, protesters set train coaches on fire in Samastipur, Lakhisarai, and Ara. Lakhminia railway station was also vandalised as job aspirants continued to pour into railway stations, blocking tracks and affecting rail services. A BJP office in Madhepura was also torched during the agitation.
Whereas A total of 260 people were arrested and six FIRs lodged until Friday in UP in connection with violent protests over the Agnipath scheme. The maximum arrests were made in Ballia (109), followed by Mathura (70) Aligarh (31) Varanasi (27), and Gautam Budh Nagar (15).
The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now.