As Agnipath protests singe India, the govt declares age relaxations, reservations for Agniveers in paramilitary forces

"The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers," the MHA tweeted even as India witnesses arson and vandalism by army aspirants with more trains and railway stations being torched.

"The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit," it tweeted.

Reports of attacks, arson and assaults of even media crews poured in as protests continued against Agnipath scheme announced by the Modi government.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that preference would be given to 'Agniveers' in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)s.

"Agniveers will get preference in CAPF jobs, post 4 years of service," tweeted the Home Ministry.

The Centre has also announced "one-time" change in the age limit for the new military recruitment scheme to 23 from 21 since no recruitment has taken place in the past two years.

On Friday one person died and several others were injured as an angry mob set trains on fire and clashed with police in several states amidst protest over the Centre's Agnipath scheme, which is a radical new recruitment plan for India's armed forces.

A 19-year-old from Warangal has died and over 15 were injured in Telangana's Secunderabad as violent protests spread to the southern state.

Several states like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed violent agitation over the new scheme.

The army aspirants protesting against the scheme targeted railway stations and set on fire some trains in Bihar and Telangana.

In Bihar, agitating students torched six compartments of a train at Moihuddin Nagar in Samastipur and two coaches of another train at Lakhisarai station. The aspirants also blocked railway traffic at Bihiya station near Ara and Lakhisarai.

Army job aspirants have given a call for Bihar bandh on June 18 to protest against Agnipath recruitment scheme in all three wings of Armed forces while opposition parties extended their support to make bandh call a success.

As the agitation is spreading across many states, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appealed to the youth to not indulge in violence. He also urged the students not to damage the railway's property.

Police personnel chasing away protesters against the Agnipath scheme in Haldwani on Friday. UNI Photo

The Opposition has also stepped up its attack on the Centre over the new recruitment scheme, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi not take 'agnipareeksha (trial by fire)' of their patience by making them walk on Agnipath.

Almost all opposition parties in Bihar have extended their support to Bandh call which included Congress, Left parties and RJD. Opposition parties also alleged that the new recruitment scheme in the Army would prove to be detrimental to the interests of youths of the country.

UP's Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, called the move "negligent" and potentially "fatal" for the country's future.

What is the Agnipath scheme?

The Centre unveiled Agnipath scheme on Tuesday what it as a "transformative" one for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis.

The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

"Agnipath allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years," read the statement issued by the defence ministry.

The age limit for Agnipath recruitment has now been raised to 23 from 21 as a "one-time waiver" following the protests.

The government has also put out a 10-point defence of the scheme and assured recruits they will not find themselves in the lurch after completing their four years in the military.

On completion of the engagement period of four years, Agniveers will be paid one time ‘SevaNidhi’ package which shall comprise their contribution including accrued interest thereon and matching contribution from the Government equal to the accumulated amount of their contribution including interest.