Bharat Bandh, Agnipath Protest Highlights: Over 600 trains cancelled, scattered protests in states

The Assam unit of the CPI(M) claimed that leaders of the party and various other Left-wing organisations such as SFI and DYFI were detained by the police across the state to thwart protests against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme on Monday. The opposition party also alleged that it has received a legal notice from the police to withdraw an Assam bandh though it has not given any such call. “The SFI, DYFI and the All Assam Krishak Sabha (AAKS) had called for protests against the Agnipath scheme today. The SFI’s state general secretary Nirankush Nath, AAKS’ senior leader Tiken Das and the CPI(M)’s state leader Nayan Bhuyan were detained at Tinsukia, Jorhat and Kokrajhar respectively on Sunday,” CPI(M) state general secretary Suprakash Talukdar said. Some others were able to evade the police dragnet, Talukdar told a press conference here. He said supporters of SFI, DYFI and AAKS staged protests against the Agnipath scheme in Guwahati city and Nagaon, Jorhat and Barpeta districts.

For damaging govt properties, vandalism, and arson from June 16th to till now, 161 FIRs have been registered and 922 persons have been arrested: Bihar Police

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday here said people joining the armed forces through 'Agnipath' scheme will have a “golden future” ahead of them.

Adityanath was explaining the merits of the scheme to some youths who had come to meet him during the ‘Janta Darshan’ at Gorakhnath temple.

He said the 'Agnipath' is a path on which “you will get many opportunities for a golden future.”

Reportedly, the visitors wanted to hear Adityanath on the scheme so that they could make up their minds before they serve the nation as soldiers.

Adityanath elaborated on the scheme telling the youths about the opening up of job opportunities in government departments, paramilitary, civil police, and Rs 12 lakh in savings they’ll have by the time they will be relieved of service.

The CM alleged that some political parties are against the Modi government and are “misleading” the youths with baseless and illogical arguments.

He said that even the present and former officials of the Indian armed forces are of the view that the scheme is wonderful.

The CM assured the visitors that the future of ‘Agniveer’ -- what the soldiers recruited under the scheme will be called -- will be secure.

“It is a mean thought that after four years, Agniveer will be of no use and they will become dangerous for society. Young people feel proud in countries such as the USA, UK, Russia, Israel, China and France to be associated with schemes similar to ‘Agnipath’. The scheme will provide disciplined and trained civilians to the society.

“Agniveer will get 30-40k per month salary, insurance, risk allowance, canteen, and other facilities. If they are martyred, the government will give Rs 1 crore to the family and also full payment of the remaining years,” he said.

Top Congress leaders on Monday met President Ram Nath Kovind and raised the issue of alleged ill-treatment of party MPs by police during their protest against the ED questioning of former party chief Rahul Gandhi and sought the withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme for defence recruitment.

The Congress delegation comprised Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior leaders P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal.

The Congress in its memorandum to the president said, given the situation on our borders, it is imperative that we have soldiers in our armed forces who are young, well-trained, motivated, happy, satisfied and assured of their future.

"The Agnipath scheme does not advance any of these objectives. Through you, we urge the government to withdraw the scheme, hold wider consultations in parliament, Parliamentary Committees and outside with all stakeholders and address the issues of quality, efficiency and economy without compromising on the welfare of our armed forces," it said.

The party also wrote to the president to register its strong protest against the "vicious and unprovoked attack unleashed on Congress MPs by Delhi Police", which comes under the direct purview of the Union home ministry.

Around 30 people, including Congress leaders and workers, were on Monday detained as a precautionary measure by police in Noida while they were moving towards Delhi to participate in anti-Agnipath protests, officials said. The action came amid a call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ by a section of people who have demanded the rollback of the new central government scheme for recruitments to the armed forces. Police personnel, including senior officers, were deployed at the border points of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjoining Delhi, and inspection of vehicles intensified in view of the call for the strike, the officials said. The enhanced vigil caused lengthy hold-ups of cars and two-wheelers including those of office-goers at Delhi-Noida border points like the DND and Chilla routes.

Over 550 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.
Of the 597 trains affected, 587 trains were cancelled, including 208 mail and express trains and 379 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement. Four mail and express trains were partially cancelled. The worst-affected zone was the East Central Railway, which is headquartered at Hajipur and comprises Sonpur, Samastipur, Danapur, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, and Dhanbad divisions. In this zone, around 350 trains remain cancelled, including those that pass through it. In Delhi, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers stopped a train at the Shivaji Bridge railway station near Connaught Place to push for their demand for a rollback of the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme. The track was cleared by the police and security personnel and train movement resumed after about half an hour, sources said.

Agnipath scheme is beneficial for the nation, army & youth. Central govt, state governments & industries are working with a whole-of-the-government approach to connect Agniveers with new job opportunities after 4 years of their service

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, alleging that the saffron camp was trying to create its own "armed” cadre base through the new defence recruitment programme. She also described the scheme as a "lollipop" to create thugs who would loot votes for the saffron camp. "The BJP is trying to create its own armed cadre base through this scheme. What will they do after four years? This is not a training imparted by the army, but weapons training. They will get an arms license. The party wants to give arms into the hands of the youth," the TMC boss said in the Assembly. Banerjee's comments came amid violent protests that have rocked various parts of the country over the Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a contract for four years without pension benefits.

Over 595 trains including 208 mail express and 379 passenger trains cancelled and 4 mail express and 6 passenger trains partially cancelled today due to agitations against Agnipath Scheme: Indian Railways

The chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are scheduled to separately meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21 and would brief him on the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

The services chiefs will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow separately and are likely to brief him on Agnipath scheme, government sources told ANI.

The Agnipath scheme was launched last week and following protests, the central government has announced several support measures in the last few days to allay apprehensions surrounding the new recruitment scheme into the armed forces.

Unveiling the Agnipath scheme in the presence of the three service chiefs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said on June 14 said that it was a transformative initiative that would provide a youthful profile to the armed forces.

Defending the Agnipath scheme, Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia on Monday said the defence recruitment model is not against anyone but in favour of the country, its military and patriotic people. The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, provides for the recruitment of youths in the age bracket of 17-and-half to 21 years in the armed forces for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Youths in several parts of the country have been protesting against the contentious scheme. Over the past few days, incidents of protesters vandalising railway stations, setting trains on fire and blocking roads and railway tracks have been reported from different cities and towns.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said decisions and reforms may be unpleasant temporarily but with time the country will experience their benefits. He observed that the 21st century India belongs to wealth and job creators and innovators, who are the country's true strength. The government has been promoting them for the last eight years. "The path of startup and innovation is not the one with ease, and taking the country on this path for the last eight years was also not easy. Several decisions and reforms may be unpleasant temporarily, but with time their benefits can be experienced by the country," Modi said. Modi's comments came in the backdrop of widespread protests against 'Agnipath,' the new army recruitment scheme announced by the Centre.

Protests against 'Agnipath' rocked Jammu city on Monday with the Congress, the AAP and some other organisations demanding the government to revoke the military recruitment scheme, prompting police to detain several members for blocking highways, officials said.  In view of Bharat Bandh observed in parts of the country, the police tightened security across the city and warned of strict action against those trying to disrupt the law and order situation. Led by Uday Chib, hundreds of youth Congress activists assembled in the city and took out a protest rally against Agnipath but were stopped by the police. Over a dozen activists, including Chib, were detained by the police. In another protest, the AAP activists took out a rally in Jewel Chowk area and they too were detained. Lashing out at the government, Chib alleged that the scheme aimed to destroy the future of the Indian youths who aspired to be in the armed forces and demanded its revocation.

More than 5000 security personnel were deployed in Jharkhand and schools remained shut across the state on Monday in view of the nationwide protests demanding roll back of the contentious 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in the Armed Forces, officials said. There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state so far during the day, Jharkhand Police spokesperson and IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar told PTI.
Shops and business establishments remained open in capital Ranchi, the steel city of Jamshedpur, Palamu and elsewhere. Homkar said more than 5000 security personnel and battalions of the RAF, RPF and CRPF have been deployed across the state, including at state capital Ranchi and at key installations. There was heavy security deployment in Ranchi railway station too. "Two battalions of Rapid Action Forece, six battlions of Railway Protection Force and 24 battlions of CRPF have been deployed in view of the protests. So far there is no report of any violence," Homkar said.

Violence that happened at Danapur & Masaurhi railway stations is unfortunate. We've registered 12 FIRs & arrested 190 people. We're identifying people on the basis of video footage. Involvement of 6 coaching institutes was found.We'll take strict action: Patna DM

We've done full preparations in view of Bharat Bandh. There is peace and there is no effect of Bharat Bandh.If anyone tries to vandalise/arson public property then action will be taken against that person.  People can protest peacefully: Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, DM, Patna

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday attacked the Centre over the 'Agnipath' scheme and said that for the first time in 75 years, service chiefs are being fronted to defend a policy decision taken by the government. With the government standing its ground on the contentious 'Agnipath' scheme for short-term recruitment in the armed forces, the three services on Sunday came out with a broad schedule of enrolment under the new policy and warned that those who indulged in violence and arson will not be inducted. A tri-services media briefing at the Defence Ministry took place hours after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force for the second straight day.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the 'Agnipath' scheme, alleging that the saffron camp was trying to create its own "armed" cadre base through the new defence recruitment programme. FULL STORY 

Jalandhar Police files FIR under section 283 IPC & section 8B of National Highway Act against unknown protestors for blocking highway during a protest against the Agnipath recuritment scheme on 18th June

Lok Sabha MP and Congress leader Manish Tewari on Monday stood in support of the concerns expressed by protestors against the 'Agnipath scheme', a recruitment scheme aiming to induct youth into the Army.

He said that the scheme is a result of 'rough calculation' of the impact of new recruitment paradigms.

Amid protests against the Centre's new Agnipath recruitment scheme, security has been beefed up in many places including Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur.

Speaking to ANI about the situation preparedness, RPF IG Tarique Ahmad said, "We have made full arrangements. Everyone including GRP, RPF and civil police has been deployed...I appeal to the students not to get misled by anti-social elements."

Indian Army issues notification for Agniveer recruitment rally, registration to open from July onwards

More protests were witnessed in parts of Haryana on Monday against Agnipath as armed forces aspirants blocked roads and demanded that the scheme be rolled back.

In Fatehabad, a group of youth blocked the Lal Batti Chowk, while several others staged a protest on roads in Rohtak district.

Amid continuing protests in Haryana and Punjab against the scheme, which seeks to recruit jawans into the army, the navy and the air force for a four-year-period, security has been stepped up at key installations in the two states, officials said.

Police and railway authorities remain on high alert in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in view of the 'Bharat bandh' call given by some organisations to protest against the recently announced scheme Agnipath for Army recruitment.

Security was tightened at all major railway stations, offices of the Central government and Army recruitments authorities in both the Telugu states to prevent any protest by the Army job aspirants.

Keeping in view the call for Bharat Bandh against the Agnipath scheme on Monday, the Bihar government temporarily suspended Internet services in 20 districts.

The suspension has been already in place in 12 districts since June 17 and the state government decided to add eight more.

"The suspension of the Internet services has given positive results and the violent incidents have reduced drastically in Bihar. The agitators and anti-social elements were failing to spread rumours in the state," an official in the Home Department claimed.

Due to agitation over the Agnipath scheme, 181 Mail Express cancelled and 348 passenger trains cancelled. Partially cancelled are 4 Mail Express and 6 passenger trains. No diverted trains: Ministry of Railways

Over 80 trains have been cancelled on Monday amid the protests in various parts of the country against the new recruitment scheme in the Armed Forces.
A total of 18 East-bound train services scheduled from different Northern Railway terminals have been cancelled today, according to Northern Railways.

It further informed that as many as 71 Delhi area-bound commuter trains (including return services) have also been dismissed for today in the wake of the protests against the Centre's Agnipath recruitment scheme.

Timely announcements being made, and there is a help desk for the public. They can get all the information at the help desk: RPF IG Tarique Ahmad on trains' cancellation amid Bharat Bandh calls over Agnipath scheme, in UP's Gorakhpur

We've also taken precautions at major railway stations throughout the Vijaywada division. We are also deploying staff where the empty rakes/trains are placed at railway stations. We are taking regular info from the Intelligence team: BT Valleswara, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner

In view of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations as a protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme, security personnel was seen deployed across Patna as a precautionary measure on Monday.

A day after violence erupted at the Ludhiana railway station amid protest against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, Ludhiana Police on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday took stock of Ludhiana railway station.

In a conversation with ANI on Sunday night, Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Kaustubh Sharma said, "In view of the tensions prevailing in the state right after the announcement of the Agnipath scheme, we have made special arrangements at the station for Monday morning."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has cancelled 'Janta Darbar' scheduled for today, in wake of Bharat Bandh protests

Anupam Singh, DCP North, Howrah says, "Police force has been deployed at multiple locations. We are ready to tackle any kind of situation that may arise. We also urge the youth to not get involved in any untoward activity."

Amid raging protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, the AAP on Sunday dubbed it "a big fraud" with the country's youth and demanded its rollback, alleging that the Narendra Modi government is making misleading claims about the benefits of the new military recruitment plan.

At a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Singh presented representatives of about 4,000 job aspirants who claimed to have cleared all the tests conducted for recruitment into paramilitary forces in 2018 but were yet to get their appointment letters.

Amid violence over the 'Agnipath' scheme, 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.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, Singh said the Indian Army doesn't conscript soldiers and that aspirants can join of their own volition.

A total of 491 train services have been affected throughout the country, due to the ongoing agitation in various parts of the country against the new recruitment scheme in the Armed Forces, informed railway officials on Sunday.

As many as 229 mail express and 254 passenger trains stand cancelled, while eight mail express have been partially cancelled.

Due to operational reasons, 31 trains terminated at various railway stations in Delhi and Ghaziabad along with Mumbai bound train from Punjab will remain cancelled on June 20.

Congress workers will hold "peaceful" protests across the country on Monday against the "anti-youth" Agnipath scheme and the central government's "vendetta politics" targeting party leader Rahul Gandhi, who is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

The Punjab Police is on high alert in view of Bharat Bandh against the newly launched Agnipath Scheme for recruitment in the military. Instructions were also given to increase security around all the big military coaching institutes of Punjab.