At mega BRS meet, KCR promises to scrap 'Agnipath' scheme
IANS -
Criticising the Agnipath scheme announced last year by the BJP government at the Centre, he said this was disintegrating the defence system. He promised that the next government would scrap the scheme and restore the old system saying the army should have a standard. KCR, as Chandrasekhar Rao is popularly called, was addressing the mammoth inaugural public meeting of BRS, which was also addressed by Chief Ministers of Delhi, Punjab and Kerala and leaders of different political parties.
PM Modi addresses 1st batch of Agniveers, calls them pioneers of scheme
IANS -
He congratulated the Agniveers and said that "this transformative policy will be a game changer in strengthening our Armed Forces and making them future ready for the challenges that lie ahead". The prime minister affirmed that the young Agniveers will make the Armed Forces more youthful and tech savvy.
Denied discussion on Agnipath, Cong, other Oppn MPs walk out of committee meeting
IANS -
The opposition MPS wanted to raise the issue of the Agnipath scheme but the chairman did not allow it as the agenda was something different, the sources. KC Venugopal said Uttam Reddy, Danish Ali and I walked out in protest from the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence for not taking up the controversial Agnipath scheme despite our repeated requests and my earlier letter addressed to the Chairman, requesting a discussion.
Opposition defaming Army via malicious allegations, misinformation campaign: BJP
IANS -
Hitting out at the opposition, the BJP said the Narendra Modi government has changed nothing. Former union minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said that opposition parties are defaming the Indian army via malicious allegations and a misinformation campaign. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has clarified that the 'Agniveer' recruitment process is the same as it was since pre-independence.
Modi in Karnataka: Police on high alert amid Agnipath protests
IANS -
Modi is visiting the state for a 2-day tour after one-and-a-half years. He will arrive at the Bengaluru Yelahanka Indian Air Force Base at 11.55 a.m. on Monday. Modi will participate in 10 programmes organised in Bengaluru and Mysuru cities, including the International Yoga Day on June 21.
Congress to protest nationwide on Monday against Agnipath, to meet President
IANS -
Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "Tomorrow lakhs of Congress workers across the country will continue peaceful protest against the anti-youth Agnipath scheme & against Modi Govt's vendetta politics targeting its leader Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP." He also said that Congress delegation will meet President Ram Nath Kovind in the evening.
'Throw out govt' Priyanka leads Agnipath protest in Delhi
IANS -
Priyanka Gandhi said, "No one is a greater patriot than the youth. I talked to many youths when I was arrested in Uttar Pradesh. I saw youths who were preparing, waiting for recruitment in the army. Found many who said there is no hope left and are now going to sell sugarcane." Appealing to the youth, she said, "Throw out the government in a democratic, peaceful and non-violent way. Bring a government that is true to the nation and protects the country's assets."
Rajnath Singh meets service chiefs for 2nd day amid Agnipath protests
IANS -
On Saturday, the Defence Minister held a meeting with Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. After the meeting, Rajnath Singh announced that the government will reserve 10 per cent jobs in the Defence Ministry for Agniveers. Similarly, the Union home ministry has also announced a ten per cent quota in the Central Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and the Assam Rifles.
Agnipath protests: Commuters stranded as several trains cancelled
IANS -
People could be seen sitting wherever they found a place to lie down amidst a long wait for their trains. Several sat on the platform while many found a place next to the ticket counters. According to the Indian Railways, 369 trains were cancelled on Saturday due to the protest against the Agneepath scheme. This included 210 mail and express trains and 159 local passenger trains. The Union Cabinet had on Tuesday approved the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces.
Advertisement