As Agnipath faces 'agni-pareeksha', Centre defends 'golden opportunity'

As protests raged across the country over the controversial Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the military, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the new model is a "golden opportunity" for those wanting to join the country's defence system and the decision to increase the upper age limit by two years will allow significant number to join the forces.

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande also said the decision to grant a one-time waiver, increasing the entry age from 21 years to 23 years for the recruitment cycle of 2022, will provide "an opportunity for many of our young, energetic and patriotic youth who, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, were preparing to join the recruitment rallies, which couldn't be completed in the last two years due to Covid-19 restrictions".

Also Read: Agnipath protest fire engulfs several trains across states

As protests raged, central authorities have also asked states to remain alert and ensure that no untoward incident takes place. State police forces have been asked to be vigilant about the spread of rumours.

Ministers and military leaders sought to project the scheme as one that will give more employment opportunities to the youth. Amid criticism that the scheme would leave out several aspirants as there were no recruitment in the last two years, they said that the one-time relaxation in age bar by two years would address the issue.

Also Read: Agnipath protest: 200 trains affected, 35 cancelled

The statements came as protests continued in several states against the introduction of "contractual system" of recruitment with parties, including the Congress and AAP, intensifying their opposition to the move.

"Agnipath - youth rejected. Farm laws - farmers rejected. Noteban - economists rejected. GST - traders rejected. The prime minister does not understand what the people of the country want, as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his 'friends'," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

AAP Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh called the scheme a "betrayal to the nation" and said it was better to rollback the scheme rather than leaving youth jobless after four years. "Young aspirants join the army with great difficulty but now the Prime Minister will throw them out in just four years. This is betrayal, it should be withdrawn immediately," he said.

However, the Defence Minister argued that the recruitment process under Agnipath will start soon and asked youths to start preparing for it.

Also Read: 1 killed as Agnipath protest in Secunderabad turns violent, police open fire

Reaching out to the protesters, he tweeted, "due to the lack of recruitment process in the army for the last two years, many youths could not get the opportunity to join the army. Therefore, keeping in mind the future of the youths, on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has increased the age limit for recruitment of Agniveers from 21 years to 23 years," Singh said.

Gen Pande said the Army will soon announce the recruitment process while asking youth to avail the opportunity to join the Army as 'Agniveers'.

"This decision will provide an opportunity for many of our young, energetic and patriotic youth who, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, were preparing to join the recruitment rallies, which couldn't be completed in the last two years due to Covid restrictions," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said the Agnipath scheme would benefit a large number of youth.

"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," Shah tweeted.