Several parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have witnessed protests.
Protests have escalated against 'Agnipath', the Centre's radical recruitment scheme for the armed forces, as it entered the third day today. Mobs set trains on fire in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana, resulting in cancellation of several rail services across the country. Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended in 12 districts of Bihar and three districts in Haryana.
The government unveiled the Agnipath scheme on Tuesday -- calling it a "transformative" scheme-- for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis. The age limit for Agnipath recruitment has now been raised to 23 from 21 as a one-time waiver following the protests.
Here are the Highlights on 'Agnipath' Protests:
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'Agnipath' Protests Live Updates: 10 Arrested, 225 Charged In Noida, Say Police
Protests against the Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme continued on Friday as scores of youngsters descended on the Yamuna Expressway and blocked traffic movement briefly, prompting Gautam Buddh Nagar police to lodge an FIR against 225 protesters and arresting 10, officials said. They said eight police personnel and a driver of a privately-run bus suffered injuries in violence during the protest in Jewar area of the district, adjoining Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)
Live Updates: 234 Trains Cancelled Amid 'Agnipath' Protests, Says Railways
The Railways cancelled 234 trains while 340 trains have been affected so far due to protests against the Agnipath scheme, the Railways said. It said 94 mail and express trains and 140 passenger trains were cancelled due to the protests, while 65 mail and express and 30 passenger trains were partially cancelled. The Railways has also diverted 11 mail and express trains. The total number of trains affected so far stands at 340, officials said. Coaches of seven trains have been set on fire by protesters, officials said, (PTI)
'Agnipath' Protests Live Updates: Situation Now Peaceful In Aligarh, Say Police
The situation is now peaceful in Aligarh and flag march has been conducted, said police as violent protests erupted earlier in the day against the Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme. The Tappal region has been divided into four zones and eight sectors, a senior official said. Additional police forces have also been deployed and 10 teams have been operationalised to make arrests. The police said they have taken 30 suspects into custody and they are being interrogated.
Protests Proof That Youth Will Never Accept 'Agnipath' Scheme, Says Manish Sisodia
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said that the protests across the country are proof that the youth of country will never accept the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme. "Every youth has the right to join the Army and dedicate their whole life for the country, but today the BJP is depriving them of this right. The demonstrations happening across the country are clear proof that the youth of India will never accept Agnipath. No policy or law can be greater than the passion for service to the nation," Mr Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.
Live Updates: Review 'Agnipath' Scheme, KCR's Party's Leader Tells Centre
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President and Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao has demanded the Centre to review the 'Agnipath' scheme, alleging that the NDA government has taken a unilateral decision on it. In a statement, the minister alleged that the scheme is "killing" the aspirations of millions of youth who want to join the armed forces and serve the nation.
Live Updates: Several Outfits To Protest Against Agnipath Scheme At Jantar Mantar On MondaySeveral organisations, including the Sanyukt Rojgaar Andolan Samiti and the Desh Ki Baat Foundation, will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme on Monday, Delhi minister Gopal Rai said. Mr Rai, who is also the founder of Desh Ki Baat Foundation, appealed to the Centre to withdraw the scheme. The other organisations which will take part in the protest include the All India Students' Association, Chatr-Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Aam Aadmi Party Youth Wing.
Live Updates: AAP Urges PM Modi To Immediately Withdraw 'Agnipath' SchemeThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "immediately" withdraw the Agnipath scheme to save the country from "burning" in the anger of youth as protests against the Centre's new plan for recruitment into the armed forces intensified on Friday. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party extended its support to the demands of youth for the withdrawal of the scheme, but made a fervent appeal to the protesters to exercise their right to protest in a democratic manner, instead of resorting to vanadalism and arson.
'Agnipath' Protests Live Update: Bihar Suspends Internet In 12 Districts Till Sunday
Live Protest: Siddaramaiah Appeals To Centre To Drop 'Agnipath' Scheme
Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to the Centre to drop the Agnipath scheme of recruiting military personnel as 'Agniveers' for a term of four years in the wake of violent protests in parts of the country by aspirants seeking to join the armed forces. In a series of tweets, he said the government should not play with the security forces to cover up the government's bankruptcy. (PTI)
Updates: Some Parties Misleading The Youth Over 'Agnipath' Scheme, Says Minister
As violent protests against the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme rocked several states, Union minister and BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said some political parties were trying to "mislead" youths over the issue. He said the scheme was a major reform in the recruitment process in defence forces which has been implemented after 75 years of Independence. (PTI)
Live Updates: Student Groups Stage Protest Against 'Agnipath' Scheme In DelhiActivists of several student groups, including the left-affiliated AISA, staged a protest in Delhi today against Agnipath recruitment scheme, and termed it "disastrous". The All India Students' Association said the scheme is nothing but a design to destroy permanent jobs in the armed forces. Both AISA and Students' Federation of India (SFI) alleged that several of their members were "brutally detained".
(PTI)
Live: Giriraj Singh Attacks Lalu Yadav's Party Over Violence During 'Agnipath' Protests
Amid widespread protests against the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme in Bihar, BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh today blamed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for arson and violence, and said the Opposition party will have to answer for its actions. He also urged state governments to identify non-students in the protests and alleged that some political parties have been using students as shield to destroy public assets. "Biharis are dying in RJD's angry protests in which public properties are also being burnt. The RJD will have to answer to Bihar," said Mr Singh, an MP from Begusarai.
Live Updates: Former Army Chief Targets Opposition Parties Over 'Agnipath' Protests
Amid violent protests in parts of the country over the 'Agnipath' scheme, Union minister and former Army chief General V K Singh (retd) on Friday accused the opposition parties of creating a controversy over the recruitment plan by "provoking" people. Since the Opposition has nothing else to do, it is stoking a controversy over the scheme even before its implementation has started, he alleged.
'Agnipath' Row Updates: Centre Playing With Nation's Security, Says Bhupesh Baghel
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has questioned the BJP-led Union government's intention in rolling out the 'Agnipath' scheme for military recruitment and asked why it was playing with the security of the country and the future of the youth. Demanding its immediate withdrawal, the Chief Minister said youths, trained in weapons, could indulge in criminal activities when they become jobless after completion of their four-year tenure as part of the scheme. (PTI)
'Agnipath' Updates: Haryana Suspends Mobile Internet, SMS Services Till Tomorrow
Live Updates: Congress Urges Urgent Meeting Of House Panel On 'Agnipath' SchemeCongress General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal has written to the Chairman of Standing Committee on Defence to convene an urgent meeting of the Committee to discuss and deliberate upon 'Agnipath', the Centre's radical recruitment scheme for the armed forces.
'Agnipath' Row Live Updates: 157 Train Services Hit Over Past 2 Days, Say SourcesAmid protests over the Centre's 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme, 157 train services were affected over the last two days, said sources in the Railway ministry. As many as 110 trains were cancelled, including 38 mail and express trains and 72 passenger trains. Besides, 47 trains were partially cancelled. Incidents of trains being set on fire were reported from 11 places including Samastipur and Lakhisarai, the sources said.
Agnipath Row Live Updates: BJP Leader's Car Set On Fire By Protesters In AligarhProtesters, demonstrating against the Centre's 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme for the armed forces, today set a BJP leader's car on fire in UP's Aligarh district. The Scorpio car belonged to Rajpal Singh, the chairman of Nagar Panchayat Jattari.
Watch: NDTV Inside Smouldering Train After 'Agnipath' Rampage In TelanganaAt least 5,000 agitators reportedly entered a railway station in Secunderabad and tried to set fire to a coach of a passenger train that had nearly 40 occupants inside. The passengers, some of them children, were saved with timely action by railway staff, who helped them move to an adjoining coach. Watch the video here.
'Agnipath' Row Live: Police Outpost Vandalised During 'Agnipath' Protests In AligarhProtesters vandalised a police outpost in Aligarh today as demonstrations against the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme for the armed forces spread to several states in the country. Vehicles were set on fire and stones were thrown at the police personnel.
Agnipath Row Live Updates: Can't Keep Soldiers On Rent, Says Bhagwant MannPunjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme, saying soldiers can't be kept on rent. He also called for the withdrawal of the scheme.
"We can't keep soldiers on rent. How can we make them ex-soldiers merely at tge age of 21? They protect the country in harsh conditions. Politicians never retire, it's only the soldiers and the public who retire. We don't need military on rent. Agnipath scheme must be taken back," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
'Agnipath' Row Live: Train Services Hit In Bengal As Protesters Block Railway Tracks
Train services on the Sealdah-Bangaon route in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district were disrupted for a brief period on Friday morning as a group of students held a demonstration on railway tracks protesting against the Centre's newly introduced 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in defence services, news agency PTI reported citing officials said.
Live Updates: Protests In Varanasi Over Centre's 'Agnipath' Scheme
Just In| 1 dead, over 15 injured in violent 'Agnipath' protests in Telangana's Secunderabad
One person has died and over 15 have been injured in Telangana's Secunderabad as violent protests against the new military recruitment policy, Agnipath, spread to the southern state after entering the third consecutive day in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
"Agnipath Recruitments Soon": Ministers Thank PM Amid Massive ProtestsTop Union Ministers have assured young people that the new military recruitment policy, 'Agnipath', would be highly beneficial for them, even as protests by armed forces aspirants continued in several states for a third day.
Young people who have been preparing to join the military have set trains on fire in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in protest against the four-year contract under the Agnipath policy. They had been expecting a permanent career in the armed forces, though a portion of 'Agniveers' - those who joined via the Agnipath scheme - would be absorbed in the military for a permanent career.
"The recruitment process in the army was affected due to the Covid epidemic for the last two years, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, in the Agnipath scheme, sensitive to the needs of the youth, gave a two-year concession in the upper age limit in the first year, from 21 years to 23 years," Mr Shah tweeted today amid the unfolding protests at several places in Bihar and eastern UP.
"A large number of youth will benefit from this decision. Through the Agnipath scheme, they will move forward in the direction of service to the country and their bright future," the Home Minister tweeted.
Just In| Due to security reasons, Gate No. 1 at ITO Metro Station and Gate No. 1 and 2 at Dhansa Bus Stand Metro Station are closed, all other gates are operational: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
With Huge 'Agnipath' Protests, The Centre's First CompromiseViolence raged today across seven states against the new recruitment scheme for the army, despite an important change announced by the government on the age limit for those eligible for a four-year tenure.
The "Agnipath" scheme was announced by the centre on Tuesday; it led nearly instantly to demonstrations across the country which have included trains being set on fire and the storming of the BJP's offices in states like Bihar.
As the violence entered the third day, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, " Prime Minister has taken a sensitive decision by showing concern for the youth of the country".
The decision by the government is its first big give on the scheme in the wake of the anger against it.
Gurgaon bans large gatherings amid violence in several parts of Haryana
Gurgaon has banned large gatherings amid violence in several parts of Haryana due to ongoing protests on Agnipath scheme.
Due to agitation at Secunderabad Railway Station today, South Central Railway cancelled Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) services.
Chatr-Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) - AAP student wing - protested against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme, they were later detained by Police.
The protesters demanded that the scheme be rolled back and a permanent recruitment process take place.
The residence of Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal, in Bettiah, attacked by agitators protesting against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. At least one Policeman injured.
A total of 200 train services have been affected due to the ongoing agitation; 35 train services stand cancelled while 13 have been short terminated, throughout the country: news agency ANI
Large number of youth to benefit from increase in Agnipath age limit: Amit Shah
The Centre's decision to increase the upper age limit for joining the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence services will benefit a large number of youth, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday.
He said the recruitment process in the Army had been affected for the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a sensitive decision by showing concern for the youth of the country.
"The recruitment process in the Army was affected due to the corona pandemic for the last two years, so Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji has taken a sensitive decision, showing concern for the youth, to give them two years concession in the age limit from 21 years to 23 years in the first year of Agnipath scheme," Mr Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.
House of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, in Bettiah, attacked by protestors
Cops Push Coaches Away From Burning Train Amid 'Agnipath' ProtestsHundreds of policemen and railway force personnel pushed coaches away from the burning section of a train, set on fire by 'Agnipath' protesters, in eastern Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district this morning. The policemen, at great risk, managed to separate the undamaged coaches from the burning section of the train.
Before vandalising the train, the mob also damaged railway station property, before the police used force to disperse them.
The Ballia police chief claimed they managed to disperse the mob after talking with them.
Another group of protesters carrying sticks argued with the police on the streets outside the railway station in the eastern UP district.
Agitating against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme, protesters set a train ablaze at Luckeesarai Junction.
"They were stopping me from shooting a video & even snatched away my phone. 4-5 compartments affected. Passengers alighted and managed to proceed on their own," Police say.
- Two coaches of the Jammu Tawi Express train were set on fire at Mohiuddinagar station in Bihar, officials told NDTV, adding no one was hurt in the incident.
- Several parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have witnessed protests over the new military recruitment policy. The protest had spread to BJP-ruled Haryana and Madhya Pradesh too.
- From Bihar's Ara to Haryana's Palwal, from Agra in Uttar Pradesh to Gwalior and Indore in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, hundreds of young aspirants for jobs in the armed forces took to streets, pouring their anger on public and private property.
- In Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, a mob set a train on fire this morning. They also damaged railway station property, before the police used force to disperse them.
- Another group of protesters carrying sticks argued with the police on the streets outside the railway station in the eastern UP district. Videos of the protest show young men with lathis breaking shops and benches at the railway station.
- "The police managed to stop the mob from large-scale damage. We will act against the men," Ballia District Magistrate Saumya Agarwal told reporters.