New Delhi: Amid strong opposition to the Agnipath project across the country, the United States government has announced a 10 per cent quota for Agni soldiers in the defense and paramilitary services. The United Kingdom has introduced a firefighting program that recruits soldiers for 4 years of short service in the three forces. The warriors who join this are called ‘Agni warriors’. The protest, which began in protest of the plan, has spread to several states. Intense fighting is going on in more than 10 states of Bihar and Telangana. The day before yesterday alone, 12 trains were set on fire by protesters. Several buses were burned and damaged on national highways.
In the wake of strong opposition, the U.S. government yesterday announced some new incentives to raise the age limit for the fire project from 21 to 23. Accordingly, soldiers selected under the ‘Fire Path’ scheme will be given 10 per cent reservation in the Auxiliary Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles. It has been decided to relax the age limit for Agni soldiers up to 3 years for recruitment in the Auxiliary Forces and Assam Rifles and up to 5 years for the age limit fixed for the first category of Agni soldiers, ‘the Union Home Ministry said on its official Twitter account.
Similarly, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held consultations with the commanders of the three forces. Following this, the Office of the Minister of Defense announced that 10 per cent reservation will be given to Agni soldiers in the defense sector. In it, ‘Agni soldiers will be given 10 per cent reservation in the Indian Coast Guard, security public posts, employment in 16 defense public sector companies. This reservation will be given to ex-servicemen in addition to the existing reservation. Necessary legal amendments will be made soon.
In addition, the Ministry of Finance is in consultation with public sector banks and financial institutions regarding support for Agni players. In it, counseling on loan facility schemes for Agni veterans to prioritize employment, improve their skills, pursue higher education and start a business. A statement from the Union Ministry of Skill Development said, “The Ministry of Skills Development is working with various divisions of the Armed Forces to improve the capabilities of military personnel.
Accordingly, Agni veterans who complete 4 years of service will be awarded the Skills India Certificate. With this certification, there are many opportunities to start a business and get a job. In addition, employment in the aviation sector has been assured of priority. The BJP-ruling state chief ministers have also made promises. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured that Agni soldiers will be given priority in state police employment. Similarly, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Katar has said that Agni soldiers will be given incentives in government employment.
Mabi Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma have also announced that Agni soldiers will be given priority in state police recruitment. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who was interviewed yesterday on the fire project, said, This will lead to various revolutionary changes in military recruitment. But some are confusing people by spreading false information for political gain. The Agnipathai project was brought about so that all the youth can be disciplined and proud of their motherland, ”he said. Meanwhile, 369 train services were canceled yesterday due to anti-fire protests.
Baja states
Chief Minister’s offer
Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath is a priority in the police service
Haryana Manohar Lal Qatar Priority in Government Service
Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan is a priority in the police service
Assam Himanta Biswa is a priority in the police service
What offers
The concessions and promises announced by the Union Government and the Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states for the Agni soldiers are as follows:
Union Government
Minister of the Department concession
10% reservation in Union Home Amitsha paramilitary service
Defense Department Rajnath Singh 10% reservation in military service
Ministry of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman To start a business, loan facility for higher education
Aviation Jyotiraditya Cynthia is a priority in employment
Skills India Dharmendra Pradhan Various opportunities to start a business and join a career with the Skills India Certificate
Available
* Soldiers joining the Army under the Agni Path Scheme are required to serve 4 years.
* 75% will be released after 4 years. Only 25 percent will be recruited on a permanent basis based on their ability.
* There is no pension for Agni soldiers who are released after 4 years.
* Salary ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40 will be given for this work.
* Rs.11.72 lakh cash will be given on retirement day. There is no tax on this amount.
* Minimum age to join this category is 17.5 and maximum age is 23.
* Rs 25 lakh financial assistance to the victim teenager
Rakesh, a youth from Warangal district, was killed in a riot at the Secunderabad railway station in Telangana during a protest against the fire project. State Chief Minister Chandrasekara Rao announced yesterday that his family would be given financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and one member of the family would be given a government job.
* Continued struggle Rs 200 crore loss to railways in Bihar
Anti-fire protests were active in several states yesterday. The struggle lasted for 4 days in Bihar. Many shops were closed there as a general strike was called. Protesters set fire to Patna’s Taregana railway station. The police vehicle was also set on fire. The ambulance driver claimed that the protesters had smashed the ambulance on the road in Dhanpur and attacked the patient and their relatives. Protesters stormed the Ludhiana railway station in Haryana and vandalized property there. In Rajasthan, protesters staged roadblocks in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jhunjhunun and on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. As a result, train service was disrupted in many places yesterday. In Bihar alone, the railways have lost Rs 200 crore due to the protests so far.
* Filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court
Attorney Vishal Tiwari said in a public interest litigation filed in the apex court yesterday that the apex court should set up an expert panel headed by a retired judge to look into the implications of the fire project on national security and the military. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be set up to look into the violence across the country.
* Do not use violence and fight peacefully
To the youth who are fighting against the Agnipatha project, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said in a statement, ‘The Agnipatha recruitment program announced by the Union Government is completely aimless. The government is ignoring your voice in this. Many ex-servicemen and military experts, like young people, are questioning the plan. Like true patriots, we are obliged to present your demands in a genuine, non-violent and peaceful way. I urge you to fight for your cause in a peaceful and non-violent manner. Until this plan is scrapped, Congress will fully support you. ”
* Students ‘Tandal’
In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and in the North 24 Parganas region of West Bengal, protesting students blocked trains, exercised ‘tandal’ and protested.
* Modi will withdraw
Former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, ‘I had predicted that Prime Minister Modi would withdraw the agricultural laws. In the same way, the demands of the youth will be accepted as the agricultural laws have been withdrawn and the fire project will definitely be withdrawn.
* Cong. Satyagraha today
It has been announced that a satyagraha protest will be held today at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on behalf of the Congress party for the youth who are fighting against the Agnipathai project. Kong in the fight starting at 10am. MPs, Working Committee members, All India leaders are expected to participate.