Vehicle set on fire in Mahendergarh; two cops hurt in Sonepat
ROHTAK/KARNAL: The protests against the central government’s new recruitment scheme Agnipath escalated dramatically in Haryana on Saturday with protesters allegedly setting a pick-up vehicle and a generator on fire at the Mahendergarh railway station and pelting police personnel with stones at Sonepat’s Gohana city.
In Mahendergarh, the protesters pelted stones at vehicles and shops. As per police officials, the agitators also indulged in stone-pelting inside the railway station. Mahendergarh SP Vikrant Bhushan said unidentified protesters have been booked for rioting and damaging public and private properties.
Rohtak-Panipat highway blocked; 200 booked
At least 200 people have been booked in Sonepat’s Gohana for allegedly attacking cops and damaging public property, besides blocking the Rohtak-Panipat NH for 90 minutes.
Youths from Tosham march towards Delhi
Hundreds of youths from Bhiwani’s Tosham started a march to Delhi to express their resentment against the Agnipath scheme. On Saturday, they got a rousing welcome in Rohtak from Meham’s Independent MLA Balraj Kundu, who assured them of support. Praveen Sangwan, a protester from Tosham, said, “Does the government want to make us eligible for being security guards outside banks, big companies, and malls after four years of service?”
Southern Haryana turns epicentre of protests
While the last year’s farm stir had negligible effect in southern Haryana, the region has become the epicentre of protests against the Agnipath scheme. So have the central Haryana’s districts such as Jind, Rohtak, Hisar, Jhajjar and Sonepat. Hundreds of youths from Panipat district also took to streets and slammed the new recruitment policy. The protest remained peaceful, but the agitators warned of a stir on June 20.
CM Khattar hails Agnipath policy
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday condemned the protests against the Agnipath policy, saying the scheme will help the youths in getting more career opportunities even after the services.
He was in Karnal to convene a meeting of party workers and leaders from the poll-bound towns. He urged the youths not to hold protests and get misled by false information about the new recruitment policy.
Agnipath not in interest of youth: Haryana Cong
A delegation of Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to a representative of the Haryana governor in Chandigarh on Saturday against the ED action against party leaders and Agnipath scheme. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda said it is neither in the interest of the country nor the youngsters.