Cong stages satyagraha, seeks rollback of ‘Agnipath’ scheme
CONGRESS STAGED “SATYAGRAHA” ACROSS ALL THE 70 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES IN UTTARAKHAND
DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR/RUDRAPUR: The Congress state unit on Monday staged a “satyagraha” across all the 70 assembly constituencies demanding rollback of the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme. The party termed the scheme a “conspiracy” to destroy India’s defence forces and the future of youth.
In Dehradun, Congress state president Karan Mahara raised slogans like “Na Suraksha hai, na pension hai, Agnipath ek tension hai (No security, no pension, Agnipath is tension).”
He said the Congress will not allow the “dictatorial government of the BJP to spoil the future of youth”.
Former chief minister Harish Rawat along with party workers participated at a protest in Garhi Cantt of Dehradun. Congress workers also staged protests in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Roorkee.
At Triveni Ganga ghat, under the Rishikesh Congress Mahanagar unit, party workers demanded rollback of the scheme terming it as a blow to the defence aspirants. Chanting “Raghu Pati Raghav Raja Ram”, the party workers staged a “spiritual” protest.
Spiritual ideologue Satpal Brahmachari of Haridwarbased Radhe Krishna ashram said in all the 70 assembly segments under the directives of Mahra, they were organising satyagraha against the Agnipath scheme.
“Agnipath and making Agniveer for just 4 years is harmful both for the security of the country and youths future. Immediate rollback of this scheme should be done,” he said.
Farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union and Uttarakhand Kisan Morcha also demanded the rollback of the central government’s short-term defence recruitment scheme “Agnipath”.
Garhwal division Bharatiya Kisan Union president Sanjay Chaudhary said farmers’ sons also join the army, so the ‘Agnipath’ scheme is also against the farming community.
“It seems without much preparation and thought process Agnipath scheme has been charted out. It is not in the interest of youths nor of the country’s security. It takes a minimum of 3 to 5 years to become an officer from cadet but herein Agnipath recruitment scheme just 4 years’ service tenure has been fixed which is almost impractical, “said Chaudhary.
In Haldwani, Congressmen gathered at Buddha park under the leadership of city president Rahul Chhimwal.
Chhimwal said, “By introducing the Agnipath scheme, the BJP is playing with the future of the youth as well as the security of the country. We demand the BJP government to immediately withdraw this scheme.”
“The BJP government’s Agnipath scheme is like pushing the youth into the fire. Mother wouldn’t like that their young son retiring just after just 4 years of service and taking up the job of a watchman or guard. Government should leave its ‘Hitler imperial attitude’ and recruit soldiers in the old-fashioned way” he said.
In Rudrapur, the Congress workers held a sit-in at Gandhi Maidan on the call of ‘satyagraha’ by the state unit. Holding placards, the Congress workers shouted slogans against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, demanding its immediate rollback.
Former chairperson of Rudrapur Nagar Palika Meena Sharma said, “The central government is playing with the future of the youth of the country. There is resentment across the country and the government should rollback the scheme.”
In Khatima, the Congress observed ‘satyagraha’ under the leadership of local MLA Bhuwan Kapri at Shaheed Samarak.
In Kashipur, Congress workers observed the ‘satyagraha’ at MP Chowk and alleged that the central government has introduced the scheme against the will of the youths of the country.
The protests by Congress were also organised in Bazpur, Gadarpur, Kichha and Sitarganj.