New Delhi: At a time when the protests against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme singing the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that some decisions that “may look unfair” initially will ultimately help in nation-building. Modi who addressed a public meeting in Bengaluru said, “Several decisions look unfair at present. In time, those decisions will help in building the nation.”
He, however, kept away from saying anything about the scheme. Several opposition parties, including the Congress, have torn into the ‘Agnipath’ and dubbed it as the latest blunder of the government. Many of the critics have predicted a rollback. The government, nevertheless, seems to be in no mood to relent. In the meantime, the Army said that it was a long-awaited change in tune with the global trend. The modern warfare requires technology and only a young mind can easily grasp that, according to Army sources.
The terms of the Agnipath scheme – recruitment between the ages of 17.5 and 21 years and mandatory retirement for most after four years without any gratuity or pension – has generated fury against the backdrop of largescale unemployment and economic depression.
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On Monday, several organisations called for an all-India bandh when more than 500 trains were cancelled. On Sunday, the tri-services came up with a broad schedule of enrolment and the Army today issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the scheme. The process will begin in July.
SKM to join protest on June 24
As the government is trying to put up a brave face amidst protests, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced that it will join the nationwide agitation against the scheme by observing a peaceful protest on June 24.
The coordination committee of the SKM – a consortium of 40-odd farmers’ organisations from across India that was formed two years ago to protest the now-repealed three farm laws – held a meeting earlier in the day where it was decided that peaceful protests would be held right up to district and tehsil level all over the country on June 24. SKM’s leaders, Yogendra Yadav tweeted that the SKM appealed to the youth, citizens, organisations and parties to join the protest on June 24.
Read also: Amidst protests, Army issues notification for recruitment under Agnipath scheme
Ban orders in Jaipur till August 18
A report from Jaipur says, because of protests, Section-144 of the CRPC has been promulgated in the capital of Rajasthan. It will remain in force till midnight of August 18 after coming into force from 6 pm on June 19. There will be a ban on rallies, meetings, processions and demonstrations without permission for the next two months.
