Government Makes Second Change To Agnipath Scheme In Two Days As Protests Continue Across India

The Union Home Ministry has said that there will be a 10 per cent reservation for 'Agniveers' in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, who are recruited to the armed forces through the newly announced Agnipath Scheme.

The MHA added that it has also decided to "give three years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.

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One-time exemption for upper age limit

This is the second modification the government has announced, concerning the Agnipath Scheme in as many days.

Earlier the government had made a one-time exemption to the maximum age limit for this year.

Instead of 21 years, which is the upper limit for recruitment under Agnipath Scheme, the government had allowed those up to the age of 23 to apply this year.

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Several state governments have also announced that they will absorb at least some of the Agniveers who completed four years in the army to their respective police forces.

However, these announcements are doing little to bring down the anger of young army aspirants, which is now spilling over to the streets across India.

Bihar sees massive protests for the fourth day

In Bihar, where the protests over the Agnipath scheme are the strongest, large-scale violence was reported for the fourth consecutive day, with agitators torching vehicles parked on the premises of a police outpost in Jehanabad district.

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A large number of protestors gathered outside Tehta police outpost around 8.30 AM and started pelting security personnel with stones. Later, they set several vehicles, including a bus and a truck.

The state government had suspended internet services in 12 districts till June 19 due to massive violent protests rocking the state.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have also been imposed in the most-affected districts to prevent any untoward incident.

250 protesters arrested in UP

In Uttar Pradesh, which has also seen massive protests against Agnipath scheme in the past couple of days, at least 250 people have been arrested and six FIRs lodged until Friday.

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According to a statement provided by ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, the FIRs were lodged in Firozabad, Aligarh, Varanasi, and Gautam Buddh Nagar districts.

Among the 260 arrested, 109 people are from Ballia followed by 70 from Mathura, 31 from Aligarh, Varanasi (27) and Gautam Budh Nagar (15).

On Friday, a mob vandalised a train at the Ballia railway station in Uttar Pradesh during a protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

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One protester killed in Telangana

On Friday, large scale violence rocked Telanagana's Secunderabad station as hundreds of youth went on a rampage, setting afire trains, goods and vandalising the station.

One person was killed and four others were injured when the railway police opened fire to control the situation.

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Many Army aspirants for the armed forces are unhappy with the changes introduced under the new recruitment scheme, particularly 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.

Even as the protests grow, the government is doubling down on its announcement and the Air Force, which will be the first to recruit under Agnipath Scheme has announced to start the process later this month.

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