Agnipath Scheme Row | ‘Didn’t Anticipate Protests Like This’: Navy Chief Appeals For Calm

“I didn't anticipate protests like this. I want to tell those protesting that do not be violent and remain peaceful,” he added.

Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar (File Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, on Friday called the Agniveer model as the single biggest human resources management transformation in the Indian military and said the protests in several parts of the country over the newly-launched Agnipath scheme are happening due to “misinformation and misunderstanding”. “It is a scheme of which I was part of the initial planning team and worked on it for almost a year and a half. And, now we see the scheme coming to its completion and introduction into the armed forces,” news agency ANI quoted Admiral Kumar as saying.

Stating the Agnipath scheme is “transformational”, the Navy Chief said it is “a made-in-India and a made-for-India” scheme.

“I didn't anticipate protests like this. I want to tell those protesting that do not be violent and remain peaceful,” he added.

Asserting “this is a great opportunity for the youth to serve the country”, Admiral Kumar said: “I want to tell people to not protest and not be violent. They should understand the scheme and remain peaceful.”

Urging the protesters to read and understand the Agnipath scheme, the Chief of Naval Staff said it is an opportunity to serve the nation.

The Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces was launched by the three service chiefs earlier this week in Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s presence.

This scheme has, however, sparked protests in many parts of the country.

One person died in Telangana's Secunderabad area and several trains were set on fire in the ongoing protests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has in the wake of protests revised the upper age limit for Agniveers, the youth recruited under the Agnipath scheme, extending it to 23 years as a one-time measure.

Commenting on the age limit being extended for the first recruitment cycle, Admiral Kumar said: “We wanted to give an opportunity to those youth, who will otherwise miss out and are between 21 to 23 (years of age).”

“We are giving a chance to them to become part of the Agnipath scheme and contribute to serving the country by becoming an Agniveer in the armed forces,” he added.

Earlier on June 14, the Union Cabinet approved the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the Indian youth to serve in the armed forces.

The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers and will serve in the armed forces for a period of four years.