Agnipath Scheme Live: Tri-Services Chiefs Meet PM; Protest at JP Nadda's Home
Catch all the live updates on the Agnipath scheme and the protests against it here.
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Agnipath Scheme Protests Live Updates: As nationwide protests over the Centre’s Agnipath scheme wane, chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, on Tuesday, 21 June, reached Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, to brief him about the scheme as well as their plans for its implementation.
Meanwhile, as per Delhi Police, around 10-12 persons, carrying long sticks with some inflammable material, reached in front of the residence of BJP president JP Nadda to protest against the scheme.
Earlier in the day, tri-services officials had announced that Agniveers recruited under the scheme will be eligible for gallantry awards like other defence personnel, and that Agniveers from the Navy will get direct entry into merchant navy after their four-year stint.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the morning announced that the state government would give “guaranteed employment” to Agniveers once they are relieved from the defence forces after four years.
Road and rail traffic was partially affected in some regions on Monday during a 'Bharat Bandh' called against the military recruitment scheme
The Army on Monday issued a notification for compulsory online registration of all Agnipath job aspirants from July
The Railways cancelled 529 trains as operations remained disrupted due to the protests, which included 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains
The Defence Ministry on Sunday warned that those taking part in the protests against the scheme will not be inducted in the army
Farmers' collective Samyukta Kisan Morcha has decided to hold a nationwide protest against the military recruitment scheme on 24 June
Protestors at Nadda's Residence, Legal Action Being Taken: Delhi Police
"10-12 persons reached in front of the residence of BJP president JP Nadda to protest against Agnipath scheme. They were carrying long sticks with some inflammable material. They put the burning material on the entrance gate. Legal action is being taken against them," ANI quoted Delhi Police as saying.
Tri-Services Chiefs Arrive at PM Modi's Residence
Chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force have reached Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, as per reports. They are expected to brief him about the scheme as well as their plans for its implementation.
'No Change in Process': Army Official on Agniveer Recruitment
Speaking about the recruitment for Agniveers intot the army, Lt General Bansi Ponappa, Adjutant General, Indian Army, said that there was no change in the usual process.
"We have compress the timeline as there was no recruitment in the past two years," he said.
"This scheme is beneficial for the nation and the army. It will be very successful in the long-term," the army official said.
Direct Entry Into Merchant Navy for Agniveers: Navy Official
"We have been in talks with the Ministry of Shipping for months, it issued an order yesterday. The order is for Agniveers. After 4 years of training when these Agniveers come out, they can directly go into the merchant navy," Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Personnel, Indian Navy, announced
Recruitment Process for Agniveers for Navy To Begin From Tomorrow, Registration From 1 July: Official
Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Personnel, Indian Navy, said that the recruitment process for Agniveers for the navy will begin tomorrow, 22 June, as opposed to 25 June, as had been stipulated earlier.
Online registration will begin from 1 July, he said.
"We will compress training timeline without compromising on quality," the vice admiral said.
Air Force Official Presents Timeline for Induction of Agniveers
"There is absolutely no change in the intake process for Agniveers in the Air Force. All recruitment will be through the scheme," said Air Marshal Suraj Kumar Jha, Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel, Indian Air Force.
He presented the timeline for induction of Agniveers in the Air Force for 2022 at a tri-services press conference.
"Agniveers are being inducted gradually starting with 2 percent in the first year. The numbers will go nearly 6,000 in the fifth year and will be around 9,000-10,000 in the 10th year... Every enrollment in Indian Air Force will now take place through 'Agniveer Vayu' only," Air Marshal Jha said.
"We will be fully prepared to welcome the first batch of Agniveers," he said.
'We Take 100% Ownership of the Scheme': Defence Ministry Official
"We take 100 percent ownership of the scheme. This scheme is absolutely implementable. Lots of people have put their brains into it," Additional Secretary of Department of Military Affairs Lieutenant General Anil Puri said at a press conference.
"We want the best, because it is a question of the country's safety."
Lieutenant General Puri also said that the Agniveers under the scheme can win gallantry awards just like other defence personnel.
'No Change in Recruitment Process, Will Take Pledge Because of Protests': Defence Ministry Official
"So that everyone has least pain, us, the youth, and the nation, the scheme has been launched at this time. There is no change in the recruitment process. No change for the three services. We are still 'All India, All Class.' The reservation process is unchanged,"
"Because of the arson and violence, we will take an undertaking and a pledge," he said.
Defence Ministry Official Addresses Media
Responding to criticism over the younger age group recruitment proposed by Agnipath, Lt General Anil Puri brought out the similarities in the design of the scheme with the US, UK, and France.
"Indian problems, Indian solutions," he also said.
'No Question of Rollback': NSA Doval on Agnipath
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in an interview with ANI aired on Tuesday, said that there was no question of rollback of Agnipath scheme.
"Agniveers will never constitute the whole army. Those Agniveers who become regulars eventually will undergo intensive training, acquire experience over a period of time," he was quoted as saying.
Tri-Services Press Conference at 3 pm
A tri-services press conference on Agnipath, chaired by Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, is scheduled for 3 pm today.
30 Arrested in Bihar Over Vandalism of 2 BJP Leaders' Homes
In Bihar's Bettiah, where protests had turned violent on Friday and Saturday, 30 miscreants have been arrested, the police said on Tuesday.
"30 miscreants arrested while those absconding being traced pertaining to the vandalism incident at the residences of Deputy CM Renu Devi amd BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal amid protests against Agnipath on June 17," Bettiah Police was quoted as saying by ANI.
Registration for Recruitment Starts From 24 June, Exam From 24 July: IAF
The Indian Air Force announced on Tuesday that registration for the Agnipath Recruitment Scheme starts from 24 June and ends on 5 July. The online examination starts from 24 July. For details, visit careerindianairforce.cdac.in.
Agnipath a Pilot Project, Can be Tweaked Later: Vice Chief of Army Staff
Lieutenant General B S Raju, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, told The Indian Express on Monday that the Agnipath recruitment scheme has been “well thought out”, and if any tweaks are required, they will be carried out at the end of four or five years.
He further said that the scheme, as it is being rolled out now, is a “pilot project”.
'Guaranteed Employment’ in Haryana to Agniveers After 4 Years of Service
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday announced that the state government would give “guaranteed employment” to Agniveers once they are relieved from the defence forces after four years.
In a tweet posted on his official Twitter handle, Khattar wrote, “I make this announcement that under the Agnipath scheme, those Agniveers who shall come back after serving the nation for four years, those people shall be given employment in Haryana government.”
Three Service Chiefs Likely To Call on PM Modi Today
The three service chiefs are likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately on Tuesday to brief him about the Agnipath scheme as well as their plans for its implementation.
The meetings are being planned amid widespread protests in several states against the new military recruitment scheme.
It is learnt that the chiefs would apprise the prime minister about various aspects of implementation of the scheme.
There was no official word about the meetings between the prime minister and the service chiefs.
Railways Cancels Trains, Traffic Snarls on Roads
The Railways cancelled 587 trains on Monday while 10 others were affected, with operations again disrupted by protests.
The worst-affected zone was the East Central Railway, which is headquartered at Hajipur, as around 350 trains remain cancelled.
Authorities said that the bandh call was given on social media and did not name the organisations behind it.
Massive traffic jams were witnessed on Delhi roads as restrictions were in place due to the bandh and the satyagraha protest by Congress over the Centre's Agnipath scheme and the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate.
Commuters from Noida and Gurugram were left hassled as they battled traffic snarls while driving into the city whereas inside the capital, Lutyens' Delhi, which was the epicentre of protests, remained chock-a-block.
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