As protests against the armed forces’s special Agnipath scheme, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that it will reserve 10 per cent vacancies for recruitment in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.
The MHA also announced that there will be a 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.
With violent protests escalating over the Centre’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme, the opposition pressed for its immediate withdrawal on Friday, even as the ruling BJP fielded its leaders to put up a stout defence of the new recruitment initiative for the armed forces.
While the Congress demanded the scheme’s immediate rollback, saying it is neither in the interest of the country nor its security, BJP ally JD(U) made a fresh plea to the Narendra Modi government for a review of the initiative.
Facing countrywide protests, the BJP fielded its leaders to put up a stout defence of the scheme, with its senior leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing it as a “golden opportunity” for youngsters to serve the country. The BJP leaders also lauded the Centre’s decision to raise the upper-age limit for recruitment under the scheme to 23 years from 21 years for this year.
BJP president J P Nadda said it shows that Prime Minister Modi is fully seized of the concerns of the country’s youngsters and is making efforts for their bright future.
Home Minister Amit Shah said the decision to increase the upper-age limit under the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence services will benefit a large number of youngsters. He said the recruitment process in the Army was affected for the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the prime minister has taken a sensitive decision by showing concern for the youngsters of the country.
