To begin with, one person was killed in police firing in Secunderabad, the first casualty of protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme that raged through several states for the third day on Friday with trains torched, public property vandalised and many thousands blocking tracks and highways.
Nevertheless, at least 200 trains were affected, 35 cancelled and 13 short-terminated, railway officials said. The Centre’s decision to increase the upper age limit will benefit a large number of youth, Mr Shah said. He added that the recruitment process in the Army had been affected for the last two years due to the Covid pandemic .Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sensitive decision by showing concern for the youth of the country.
Protests emerge in large parts of India from Uttar Pradesh to Telangana and Bihar to Madhya Pradesh in wake of the Agnipath scheme
Subsequently, angry crowds, some armed with brickbats and stones, fanned out across large parts of India, from Uttar Pradesh to Telangana and Bihar to Madhya Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Army chief Gen. Manoj Pande were among those who stepped in to assuage concerns. A mob attacked the home of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi in Patna.
Meanwhile, the Army chief said the government’s decision to raise the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 under the scheme in 2022 will provide an opportunity to youths who were preparing to join the force but couldn’t in the last two years. Amidst the protests, the Union government on Thursday to 23 from 21 for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced the “Agnipath” scheme, as approved by the Union Cabinet, for the recruitment of youth in the armed forces for four years. The process of recruitment will commence in 90 days with a planned intake of about 46,000 young men and women this year.
Youth’s age for recruitment in the armed forces increased from 21 to 23 in the Agnipath scheme
In conclusion, youth recruited in the armed forces under the short-term ‘Agnipath’ scheme will get priority in recruitment to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Wednesday
