Agnipath Row: Violent Reactions Against The Military Recruitment Policy

Youth displeased with recruitment policy, block highway and attack train in Bihar. Agnipath elicited mixed reactions from army veterans.

Bihar: Arson exploded on the highways of Bihar as youth expressed their displeasure in the Army recruitment policy unveiled early this week by the Union Government.

Violent demonstrations have reportedly resulted in protestors vandalising public property and pelting stones at a train in the Buxar district of Bihar.

The policy that aims at cutting down expenses from the defence budget was met with protestors blocking highways, vandalising public property, and disrupting regular train travel. Protestors of Muzaffarpur districts expressed their dissatisfaction and annoyance against the fresh policy by violent demonstrations.

According to the policy, accepted recruits will only operate in the armed forces for a short period of four years, and let go after the tenure. The policy does not promise benefits such as pension or constant tenure and only 25% of the selected recruits will be permitted to remain in the forces after the initial four years.

Displeasure in the form of protests have reportedly extended to the Northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh as well. Protestors are demanding an age relaxation as well as a return to the previous policy.

Protestors reportedly blocked NH 28 in Muzaffarpur and demanded “Bharti do ya arthi do (Give us jobs or have us killed)”, according to NDTV.

According to reports protestors have also demanded for an age relaxation in the policy as the army recruitment procedure had been halted for a period of two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Sources quoted demands stating a “20-30 per cent reservation” for Agnipath soldiers after their 4-year tenure. Minister Rajnath Singh commented on Tuesday that several departments under the government sector will consider reservations for the “Agniveers” to fill up present vacancies.