The Army on Monday issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. The Army said the online registration on the force’s recruitment website is mandatory for all the job aspirants under the new model. It said the online registration will commence from July. The Army said ‘Agniveers’ would form a distinct rank in the Indian Army, which would be different from any other existing ranks.
In a detailed note on the scheme, the Army last night said ‘Agniveers’ will be barred from disclosing classified information gained during the four-year service period to any unauthorised person or source under the Official Secrets Act, 1923. “With the introduction of this scheme, the enrolment of soldiers in the the regular cadre of the Indian Army, except technical cadres of medical branch, will be available only to those personnel who have completed their engagement period as Agniveer,” it said.
Parts of Delhi witnessed traffic jams on Monday as the traffic police closed off several roads ahead of the Congress’ protest against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme and “vendetta politics” in targeting Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald money laundering case and will appear before the agency for the fourth time on Monday.
Massive traffic jams were witnessed at Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyway, Meerut Expressway, Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, Pragati Maidan and other parts of Delhi. Some commuters took to Twitter to share their plight.
Amid a call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Monday over the Agnipath scheme, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police on Sunday reiterated that CrPC section 144 is imposed in the district and asked people to not engage in any activity which disrupts law and order.
The police’s appeal came even as a group of ex-servicemen submitted a memorandum with authorities demanding strict against anti-social elements involved in the violence during protests against Centre’s new scheme for recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
As many as 523 train services were cancelled on Monday due to protests in different parts of the country against the Centre’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for short-term recruitment in the armed forces.
Nearly 35 WhatsApp groups were banned by the government for allegedly spreading fake news about the Agnipath scheme, government officials said on Sunday. However, information about these groups or if any action has been initiated against their administrators was not immediately known.
Union minister and former Army chief General V K Singh (retd) on Sunday slammed the protesters saying if they don’t like the new policy for recruitment into the armed forces they shouldn’t opt for it.
“Joining the Army is voluntary and not a compulsion. If any aspirant wants to join, he can join as per his will, we don’t conscript soldiers. But if you don’t like this recruitment scheme (‘Agnipath’) then don’t come to (join). Who is asking you to come? You are burning buses and trains. Who told you that you will be recruited into the armed forces. You will be selected only if you fulfil the eligibility criteria,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)