AAP sends Rs 420 cheque to PM Modi in protest against Agnipath scheme

The AAP on Sunday protested here over Agnipath scheme and said it has sent a Rs 420 cheque to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Centre of cheating the youth through the new military recruitment initiative.

The cheque amount refers to the Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code that deals with cheating.

In a symbolic protest, members of the Aam Aadmi Party's student wing - Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), sought money from the public amidst the slogans of "Narendra Modi ji ke liye bheek de do" (Give alms for Narendra Modi ji).

After announcing the military recruitment scheme on June 14, the Central government faced flak from defence aspirants in several states of the country.

Sanjay Singh, AAP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Rajya Sabha member, said in a tweet in Hindi, "Modi Ji said that there is no money for the Indian army and jawans will be given jobs for only four years. The student and youth wing of @AAPUttarPradesh begged all across the state and sent a cheque of Rs 420 to the 420 government of Modi."

"See the brutality of Baba's (Adityanath) Police and remember that one day @Uppolice will also be on a 4-year contract," he added in the tweet in which he also shared a video clip showing UP police personnel dragging protesting AAP members into buses.

In Lucknow, over two dozen AAP members were removed from the busy Hazratganj intersection by the police. However, police officials maintained that no one was arrested or detained.

Later in a tweet, Singh said, "Stop crying for money for the protection of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). A farmer's son will be 'Agniveer', and Shah's son will eat 'kheer'." He also congratulated the party workers who staged protests.

Singh on Saturday said that Modi would be told not to do 'char sau beesi' (cheating) with the Indian Army and AAP will also appeal to the government "to not cry for money to protect the country".

He added that AAP will continue to protest against the scheme as the government is "misguiding" people by claiming "lack of money for the security of the borders" as the reason behind the scheme.