Army issues Agnipath notification
New Delhi, June 20
The Army today issued a notification for compulsory online registration of all Agnipath aspirants from July as the Centre appeared firm on implementing the scheme despite the Opposition upping the ante against the Narendra Modi government.
A Congress delegation led by Mallikarjun Kharge petitioned President Ram Nath Kovind over the withdrawal of the plan while the Samyukt Kisan Morcha late Monday announced nationwide protests on June 24.
Railways cancels 612 trains
- Over 600 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath scheme
- Of the 612 trains affected, 602 were cancelled, including 223 mail and express trains and 379 passengers trains, the Railways said
- Four mail and express trains and six passenger trains were partially cancelled
In its notification, the Army said Agniveers would be barred from disclosing classified information gained during the four-year service to any unauthorised person under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
The new recruits would be subjected to the provisions of the Army Act, 1950. A “distinctive insignia” would be worn by the Agniveers on their uniform. The online registration for the recruitment could be done on “www.joinindianarmy.nic.in”.
Reforms a must
Several reforms may be unpleasant temporarily…. The path of reforms can alone take us towards new targets and new resolve. —Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
The three Service Chiefs will be briefing PM Modi tomorrow on Agnipath even as protests against the policy were reported from various parts of the country with the Railways bearing the main brunt. Road and rail traffic was partially affected on
Monday during Bharat Bandh called against Agnipath while protests appeared to taper off in many states as the authorities stepped up security after days of unrest. The bandh call given by some organisations passed off without any untoward incident. Train passengers found themselves at the receiving end again with close to 600 trains cancelled today.
According to a Railways communiqué, 208 mail/express trains and 379 passenger trains were cancelled and four mail/express trains and six passenger trains were short-terminated as a result of the protests.
The passenger services cancelled on Monday included a number a trains connecting Delhi with various Haryana towns such as Rohtak, Rewari, Jind, Narwana and Hisar. Due to heightened security arrangements, there were reports of massive traffic jams from several places, including the Delhi-Noida and Delhi-Gurgaon borders.
Congress leaders sat on ‘satyagraha’ at Jantar Mantar in the Capital to express solidarity with the armed forces aspirants protesting against the Agnipath scheme. Some Youth Congress workers were detained after they blocked a train at the Shivaji Bridge railway station near Connaught Place.
Meanwhile, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court against the Agnipath scheme, alleging that the government has contravened constitutional provisions and acted without having parliamentary approval.
The plea, filed by advocate M L Sharma, referred to the protests as it sought quashing of the relevant notification.
India Inc backs Centre
India Inc, led by Mahindra Group chief Anand Mahindra and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, on Monday rallied behind Agnipath. PTI
