The Congress today held a ‘Satyagraha’ in Shillong in support of those protesting the government’s Agnipath scheme.
The protest was led by the Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress as part of the party’s nationwide call.
The Congress had called for ‘Satyagraha’ across all assembly constituencies in the country today demanding withdrawal of the “Tuglaqi” decision to roll out the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the defence forces.
Sate Mahila Congress President, Joplyn S Shylla said brought for recruitment in the army for the youths is not feasible for the youth because after they are trained and employed in the Army will remain jobless after four years.
“What are the youths going to do after four years in the Army?” she questioned., adding, “The scheme may lead our youths to taking up arms or other anti social activities that will put their lives and the society in danger.”
She said the Army, Navy and the India Airforce is not a vocational training centre. “The government must withdraw the scheme and it should not play with the future of our youth,” she said.
Several states witnessed protests, including unbridled violence, after the scheme was announced on June 14.
It envisages recruiting in the armed forces youths in the age bracket of 17-and-half to 21 years for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years.
Meanwhile, the recruitment process in the Indian Air Force under the Agnipath scheme has already begun with 56,960 applications received so far.
