Security has been beefed up in several states on Monday ahead of Bharat Bandh call given by armed forces aspirants who are protesting against the Agnipath scheme.
After the policy, which allows Indian youths to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for a period of four years, was announced on June 14, protests erupted in various states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam.
As the agitation intensified in some places, protestors went on the rampage setting trains on fire, torching vehicles and damaging both private and public properties.
The Congress will also hold “peaceful” protests across the country on Monday against the “anti-youth” Agnipath recruitment scheme.
Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday, “Tomorrow lakhs of Congress workers across the country will continue peaceful protests against the anti-youth Agnipath scheme and against Modi government’s vendetta politics targeting its MP Rahul Gandhi.”
Several organisations will stage protests against the Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar in the national capital today.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai too will join the protest. “A joint movement will be organized at Jantar Mantar in Delhi at 11 am on June 20 against the Agnipath scheme,” Rai had said in a tweet on Friday.
Police in several states have announced measures and tightened security for June 20 protest. In Delhi’s neighbouring areas Faridabad and Noida, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits the assembly of four or more persons, has been imposed.
Uttar Pradesh Police said that strict action will be taken against those found involved in jeopardising peace.
“Amid protests against Agnipath Scheme, anti-social elements may jeopardise peace. Section 144 imposed in Gautam Buddha Nagar and strict action will be taken against those found involved in such incidents,” said Ashutosh Dwivedi, ADCP, Law and Order, Noida.
In Rajasthan’s Jaipur, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed from 6 pm on Sunday till midnight of August 18 in the view of the possibility of disturbance to law and order due to the protests.
Punjab Police’s ADGP Law and Order has directed the CPs and SSPs across the state to be on alert and asked them to monitor the activities of social media groups which are actively mobilizing or spreading instigating information about the scheme.
As a precautionary measure, all schools in Jharkhand will remain closed today in the wake of the protests called by certain organisations, the state education official informed on Sunday.
