Will armed forces accept anti-Agnipath vandals? Top official responds

Addressing a press conference, Lieutenant General Anil Puri said aspirants will have to give a written pledge they were not involved in violent protests against the initiative.

Addressing a press conference on the radical Agnipath military recruitment scheme amid protests in some states against it, a top army official, who was closely involved with the formulation of the policy, on Sunday said aspirants will have to give a written pledge they did not participate in violent protests against the plan.

Lt General Anil Puri briefing the media on Sunday. (ANI)

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“The Indian Army's foundation lies in discipline. There's no space for arson or vandalism. Every individual will have to give a certificate they were not part of protests or vandalism. Police verification is mandatory, no one can join without it,” said Lieutenant General Anil Puri, additional secretary, department of military affairs.

Lt General Puri further said, “If any FIR is lodged against any of the candidates, they cannot join. There's no place for indiscipline in the armed forces. All candidates will have to give a written pledge they did not indulge in any arson or violence.”

Protests against Agnipath began in Bihar on Wednesday, just a day after the scheme was rolled out. On Thursday, the agitation took a violent turn, and spread to more states. Violence took place on Friday and Saturday as well, with Bihar being the worst-hit, while Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Telangana, too, witnessed arson and vandalism.

The protesters mostly targeted trains, while public and government property was also torched. 

Under ‘Agnipath’, recruits will join armed forces for a period of four years and will be called ‘Agniveers’. After this period, 25 per cent will be retained, on the basis of merit, for full service, while the remaining 75 per cent will be relieved. The relieved ‘Agniveers’ will be given 10 per cent reservation each in posts under the Union home and defence ministries.

Also, only for the first batch, the Union government has given a ‘one-time’ waiver, extending the upper age limit to 23 from the earlier announced 21. The lower age limit continues to be 17.5 years.