Violent Protest Against Agnipath Spreads in Several States

Delhi: Violence took place today across several states against the agnipath scheme for the army, despite an important change announced by the government on the age limit for those eligible for a four-year tenure.

As the violence entered the third day, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “The recruitment process in the army was affected due to the Covid epidemic for the last two years, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, in the Agnipath scheme, sensitive to the needs of the youth, gave a two-year concession in the upper age limit in the first year, from 21 years to 23 years. It is a sensitive decision to take this step”.

The “Agnipath” scheme was announced by the centre on Tuesday; it led nearly instantly to demonstrations across the country which have included at least 30 trains being attacked in Bihar and the storming of the BJP’s offices in states like Bihar.