[Watch] Delhi Youth Congress Workers Block Rail Track In Protest Against Agnipath

New Delhi: Members of the Youth Congress stopped a train at Delhi’s Shivaji Bridge as part of the protests to roll back Agnipath, the government’s military employment scheme. Chanting slogans, some of the protesting Youth Congress workers climbed on the trains while some blocked the tracks.

“The government of India needs to rollback Agniveer scheme. The Youth Congress will fight for the Unemployed youth of this country who want to serve the country and arm its forces,” a statement from the Youth Congress read.

The Railway Police deployed heavy personnel at railway stations in the capital to ensure safe movement of people amid the ongoing protests against the Agnipath scheme.  “Amid calls over Bharat Bandh, security arrangements strengthened at Nizamuddin Railway station to ensure safety of people, & Railway property. Train movements not disrupted… Passengers are comfortably departing & arriving,” AP Joshiya, Assistant Security Commissioner, RPF, told news agency ANI.

The defence ministry on Sunday made it clear that the Agnipath recruitment scheme won’t be rolled back. “Why should it be rolled back? It is the only progressive step to making the armed forces young. It is a question of protecting the country,” Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, said.

Lt General Puri also said that anyone involved in protests, arson and vandalism against the scheme would not qualify to join the three services under the new model. He also said that supportive measures announced in the last few days for the recruits under the scheme were not initiated because of the protests and arson and that the government was already working on them as part of overall measures to ensure employment for those who exit the services after the four-year stint.