Agnipath Scheme: Punjab CM Mann Gives Assurance After Army Cites Lack Of Support For Recruitment Rallies

The army had told the Punjab government that the support of the local administration was not being received for recruitment.

New Delhi: After the controversy over the recruitment rally under the Agneepath scheme in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday assured complete backing to the Army’s Agnipath recruitment drives. The army had told the Punjab government that the support of the local administration was not being received for recruitment under the Agneepath scheme. 

"We are constrained to bring to your kind attention that the support from the local civil administration is vacillating with no clear-cut commitments. They are usually citing their inadequacies due to lack of directions from the state government at Chandigarh or lack of funds," Army's Jalandhar Cantt zonal recruitment officer had written to Punjab Chief Secretary V K Janjua and Principal Secretary (Employment Generation) Kumar Rahul.

"We are now thus compelled to bring to your kind notice that unless clear-cut commitments are not received in writing on issues raised, we would be taking up case with Army Headquarters to hold in abeyance all future recruitment rallies and procedures in the state of Punjab, alternately conduct rallies in neighbouring states," the letter said. 

Reacting to the development, the Punjab chief minister on Wednesday tweeted that all deputy commissioners have been directed to provide complete support to the Army authorities for recruitment drives.

“All Deputy commissioners were directed to provide complete support to Army Authorities for recruitment of Agniveers in Punjab. Any laxity shall be viewed seriously. Every effort will be made to recruit maximum number of candidates into army from the state,” Mann wrote responding to a report on the Indian Army's letter.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the AAP government in Punjab will "fully support" the Agnipath Scheme during the recruitment drives of Agniveers.

Kejriwal's clarification came after reports that the Punjab government was not supportive of the recruitment drive.

"We had differences with the Centre on Agnipath Scheme but since the Centre has implemented it we will support it fully. We will completely cooperate with the scheme and the army," Kejriwal said.

A resolution was also passed in the Punjab Assembly demanding the withdrawal of the Agneepath scheme. CM Mann introduced this proposal and said that recruiting youth in the army for only four years can create dissatisfaction among them.

(With PTI Inputs)