New Delhi: Precautionary measures are being taken in many states ahead of today's Bharat Bandh call given by armed forces aspirants who are protesting against the Agnipath scheme. The government has ruled out a rollback of the scheme.
The Army on Monday issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.
The Army said the online registration on the force's recruitment website is mandatory for all the job aspirants under the new model.
It said the online registration will commence from July.
Here are the Highlights on the 'Agnipath' Protests:
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'Agnipath' row: All coaching institutes ordered shut in Haryana's Mahendragarh and Jhajjar
Congress leaders meet President
Congress leaders meet President Ram Nath Kovind, raise mistreatment of MPs by police for protesting against Rahul's ED questioning, Agnipath scheme.
Youth Federation Members Protest Against 'Agnipath' In Chennai
Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) cadres protest near Sasthri Bhavan in Chennai's Nungambakkam against the Agnipath recruitment Scheme on Monday.
DYFI cadres raised slogans against the Central government and demanded the rollback of the Agnipath Scheme.
Chennai police placed barricades stopping the protesters from reaching Sasthri Bhavan.
Protesters tried to pull and throw the barricades. They were detained by Chennai Police.
Security Tightened In UP's Gorakhpur
Amid protests against the Centre's new Agnipath recruitment scheme, security has been ramped up in many places including Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur.
Speaking to ANI about the situation preparedness, RPF IG Tarique Ahmad said, "We have made full arrangements. Everyone including GRP, RPF and civil police has been deployed...I appeal to the students not to get misled by anti-social elements."
"Timely announcements are being made, and there is a help desk for the public. Passengers can get all the information at the help desk," added RPF IG Tarique Ahmad on trains' cancellation amid Bharat Bandh calls over the Agnipath Scheme.
Heavy Traffic Jam In Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway
The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway is witnessing a heavy traffic jam following a call for Bharat Bandh against the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme.
A massive pile-up was seen on the expressway near the Sirhaul border on Monday as the Delhi Police was inspecting every vehicle before it entered the capital, to ensure law and order. The gridlock began around 8:30 am and grew worse during the peak hours.
Army Issues Notification For Recruitment Under 'Agnipath'
The Army on Monday issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.
The Army said the online registration on the force's recruitment website is mandatory for all the job aspirants under the new model.
It said the online registration will commence from July.
The Army said 'Agniveers' would form a distinct rank in the Indian Army, which would be different from any other existing ranks.
BJP Trying To Create Its Own Armed Cadre Base Through 'Agnipath': Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the 'Agnipath' scheme, alleging that the party was trying to create its own "armed" cadre base through the new defence recruitment programme.
Terming the scheme as an insult to the armed forces, Banerjee also wondered whether the BJP plans to hire 'Agniveer' soldiers as "watchmen" at its party offices, after their four-year service period.
"The BJP is trying to create its own armed cadre base through this scheme. What will they do after four years? The party wants to give arms into the hands of the youth," the TMC boss said in the assembly.
Protesters Block Roads In Haryana, Security Ramped Up
More protests were witnessed in parts of Haryana on Monday against Agnipath as armed forces aspirants blocked roads and demanded that the scheme be rolled back.
In Fatehabad, a group of youth blocked the Lal Batti Chowk, while several others staged a protest on roads in Rohtak district.
Amid continuing protests in Haryana and Punjab against the scheme, which seeks to recruit jawans into the army, the navy and the air force for a four-year-period, security has been stepped up at key installations in the two states, officials said.
Youth Congress Workers Stop Train Near Connaught Place, Several Detained
Indian Youth Congress workers on Monday stopped a train at the Shivaji Bridge railway station near Connaught Place in the national capital to push for their demand for a rollback of the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme, reports PTI.
The track was cleared by police and security personnel and train movement resumed after about half an hour, sources said.
Several protesters were detained as police personnel tried to remove them from the tracks and the station, a senior police official added.
529 Trains Cancelled Due To 'Agnipath' Protests
More than 500 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.
While 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.
The Railways also partially cancelled four mail/express trains.
Traffic Jams, Road Closures In Delhi Over 'Agnipath', Bharat Bandh Protests
Parts of Delhi witnessed massive traffic jams on Monday as the traffic police closed off several roads in view of a call for Bharat Bandh, and the Congress' protest against the Centre's Agnipath scheme and "vendetta politics" against Rahul Gandhi.
Massive traffic jams were witnessed at Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyway, Meerut Expressway, Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, Pragati Maidan and Delhi-Gurugram border, reported PTI.
Long queues of slow-moving vehicles were seen in these areas.
Jams At Delhi Borders Amid Checks
The Delhi-Gurugram Expressway on Monday saw heavy traffic jams following a call for Bharat Bandh against the military recruitment scheme- Agnipath- by some organisations.
A massive jam was seen on the expressway near the Sarhaul border as Delhi Police checked vehicles. The organisations have demanded a rollback of the scheme.
Opposition parties, including Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, will stage protests against the Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar in Delhi today. In Faridabad and Noida, prohibitory orders have been imposed that prohibit the assembly of four or more persons.
Schools Closed In Jharkhand Amid Bharat Bandh Call
All schools in Jharkhand will remain closed on Monday in the wake of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations against the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme launched by the Central government last week.
Security personnel have been deployed at various locations in Ranchi amid protests against the Army recruitment scheme.
"JAC exams for class 11 were scheduled for today. New dates will be announced for today's exams," Sister Mary Grace, Principal, Ursuline Convent School and Inter College told ANI.
Over 80 trains Cancelled Amid Protests
Over 80 trains have been cancelled on Monday amid the protests in various parts of the country against the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme.
A total of 18 East-bound train services scheduled from different Northern Railway terminals have been cancelled today, according to Northern Railways.
Train services of the Western Railway zone were affected yesterday as well.
Congress To Meet President Kovind, Demand Rollback Of 'Agnipath'Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said that the Congress will hold Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar on Monday and demand the President withdraw the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme.
"We'll sit on Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar today, and in the evening at 5 pm we'll meet the President and demand that the 'Agnipath' scheme be withdrawn," said Congress' Ajay Maken.
According to him, the scheme needs to be discussed with the youth first before implementation.
"The scheme should first be discussed with youth and in Parliament, but before that, it should be withdrawn," he added.
Security Forces Deployed At Vijayawada Railway Station
Security forces were deployed at Vijayawada Junction railway station on Monday in wake of Bharat Bandh called by some organisations, against the Agnipath scheme.
Barbed wires were also put up. Additional police forces have been deployed in all prime locations of the city.
Security Forces Deployed In Bihar
In view of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations as a protest against the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme, security personnel was seen deployed across Patna as a precautionary measure on Monday.
The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three services of the Armed Forces called 'Agnipath' and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in several states on Monday amid protests against the centre's new 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme.
Tight Security In West Bengal's Howrah
Security was tightened at various locations in the Howrah district of West Bengal amid Bharat Bandh called by some organisations on Monday to mark their protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme announced by the centre last week.
"Police force has been deployed at multiple locations. We are ready to tackle any kind of situation that may arise. We also urge the youth to not get involved in any untoward activity," Anupam Singh, DCP North, Howrah told reporters.
Security has been beefed up in several states on Monday amid protests against the centre's new Agnipath scheme.
Special Security Arrangements In Place At Ludhiana Railway Station
A day after violence erupted at the Ludhiana railway station amid protest against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, Ludhiana Police on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday took stock of Ludhiana railway station.
In a conversation with ANI on Sunday night, Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Kaustubh Sharma said, "In view of the tensions prevailing in the state right after the announcement of the Agnipath scheme, we have made special arrangements at the station for Monday morning."
"We have done special deployment of Rapid Action Force. Many people have been arrested. We are taking action against those involved in the incident that took place on June 19," the police official said.
Punjab Government Ramps Up Security
The Punjab government on Monday ramped up security across the state ahead of the Bharat Bandh call issued by 'Agnipath' protesters.
Security has been tightened near central government offices, army recruitment centres, military installations, BJP and Hindu leaders' offices in Punjab.
"The offices and installations related to Central Government departments shall be strongly protected," an official statement said.
Security Beefed Up In Several States Amid Bandh Call
Security has been beefed up in several states on Monday amid protests against the Centre's new Agnipath recruitment scheme.
After the policy, which allows Indian youths to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for a period of four years, was announced on June 14, protests erupted in various states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam.
As the agitation intensified in some places, protestors went on the rampage setting trains on fire, torching vehicles and damaging both private and public properties.
Congress will also hold "peaceful" protests across the country on Monday against the "anti-youth" Agnipath recruitment scheme.
46 Arrested In Connection With Secunderabad Violence
As many as 46 people have been arrested in connection with the arson and violence at the Secunderabad Railway Station on June 17 for protesting against 'Agnipath', a recruitment scheme for the armed forces, said a senior official of the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Sunday.
The protesters were allegedly provoked by some of the army recruitment coaching academies for the violence, said Anuradha, Superintendent of Police, GRP to reporters. Initially, about 300 people entered the station through gate number 3, she said.