'Bihar Burning, But Ruling Allies Fighting': Prashant Kishor On Agnipath Protests

Earlier, Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal hit out at Nitish Kumar-led coalition government for the targetted attacks in the wake of massive statewide protests over the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor (File Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s Agnipath recruitment scheme, poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Sunday voiced against the use of violence and sabotage that Bihar has been witnessing for the past three days. Kishor lambasted Bihar’s ruling allies – the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – for levelling allegations against each other as the state burns.

“There should be agitation against Agnipath, not violence and sabotage. The people of Bihar are bearing the brunt of the conflict between #JDU and #BJP. Bihar is burning and the leaders of both parties are busy infighting and counter-alleging each other instead of solving the matter,” he tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier, Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal hit out at Nitish Kumar-led coalition government for the targetted attacks in the wake of massive statewide protests over the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

“Nothing wrong with opposing, but targeting people at the behest of administration, torching offices of a particular party with police acting as spectators is wrong,” news agency Asian News International (ANI) quoted Jaiswal as saying on Saturday.

“What isn’t happening in India is happening in Bihar. I oppose it,” he added.

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.

The Union Cabinet on 14 June approved a recruitment scheme called Agnipath for Indian youth to serve in the armed forces. The scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the armed forces for a period of four years.

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

As protests continue unabated, various Union Ministries have announced job opportunities for the Agniveers after their four-year term ends.