Agnipath Scheme: Trains Set On Fire, Highways Blocked In Several States As Protests Intensify | Top Developments

The protesting defence aspirants raised slogans against the PM Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and demanded roll back of the new scheme.

Protest against 'Agnipath' scheme. (Image: PTI)

Protests erupted in several parts of the country a day after Centre announced the rollout of new military recruitment scheme 'Agnipath'. Hundreds of Army aspirants blocked roads, stopped trains and blocked highways in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar in protest against the scheme which government claims would give an opportunity to the youth of India to fulfil the dream of joining the Armed Forces and serving the nation.

The protesting defence aspirants raised slogans against the PM Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and demanded roll back of the new scheme. Agitators have said that the new scheme will hamper the interest of the aspirants to join the Army to serve the nation. 

Here's All You Need To Know About The Protests Over Agnipath Scheme:

1. Thousands of Army aspirants on Thursday blocked the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway in Gurugram's Bilaspur area in protest against Agnipath yojna, the government's new scheme for short-term recruitment into the armed forces. According to reports, the traffic congestion on the expressway stretched over several kilometres. A cop at the traffic police control room also confirmed the traffic snarl on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway near Bilaspur, news agency IANS reported.

2. Over 20 trains were cancelled in Bihar and several were set afire in Bihar by Army job aspirants whose protest against the Centre's short-term recruitment scheme continued for the second consecutive day. Police fired teargas shells and charged baton to disperse the angry youngsters who blocked railway tracks, threw burning tyres on roads and performed push-ups and other drills on the streets. 

3. Railway properties in Arrah, Buxar, Bhabhua, Chhapra, Hajipur bore the brunt of the protesters as stationary bogeys were set on fire at Bhabhua and Chhapra stations and window panes of compartments smashed at many places. Even Busy routes like Patna-Gaya, Barauni-Katihar and Danapur-DDU were listed among those worst-affected by the stir.

4. Even in Delhi, a dozen defence force aspirants on Thursday stopped a train at Nangloi Railway Station in outer Delhi by lying down on tracks protesting against the centre’s 'Agnipath' scheme. The protesters said they had applied for some government jobs two to three years ago, but the examinations for the recruitment have not been conducted yet, and they have crossed the minimum eligibility age now.

5.  Hundreds of young people took to the streets in Haryana's Gurugram, Rewari and Palwal against the Agnipath scheme with protesters blocking highways. According to reports, a police vehicle was damaged in stone pelting in Palwal and the Agra Chowk on National Highway 19 was blocked. In Gurugram's Bilaspur and Sidhrawali, protesters laid a virtual seize on bus stands and roads and held a protest at Bilaspur Chowk, crippling traffic on the Gurugram-Jaipur highway.