This live blog session has ended. Stay tuned to Moneycontrol for more updates.
'Agnipath' Bharat Bandh protests Highlights: A nationwide call for Bharat Bandh on June 20 has been announced against the Centre's 'Agnipath' scheme for short-term recruitment in the armed forces. States have taken precautionary measures and asked people not to engage in any activity which disrupts law and order.
The Railway Police has identified key accused in June 17 violence at Secunderabad railway station.
In the backdrop of widespread protests against 'Agnipath,' the new army recruitment scheme announced by the Centre, PM Narendra Modi said decisions and reforms may be unpleasant temporarily but with time the country will experience their benefits.
The youth who took part in the violent protests against Agnipath scheme would not find a place in the armed forces, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje said.
Over 600 trains were cancelled on June 20 with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath scheme. Of the 612 trains affected, 602 trains were cancelled, including 223 mail and express trains and 379 passengers trains, the Railways said.
As protests against the Centre's newly-launched Agnipath military recruitment scheme intensified, Congress leaders met President Ram Nath Kovind.
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the President was informed that the Agnipath scheme was neither discussed with any committee nor was presented in Parliament which is a violation of democratic rights.
The chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are scheduled to separately meet PM Narendra Modi on June 21 and are likely to brief him on Agnipath scheme.
The Service chiefs earlier ruled out the rolling back of the scheme.
This live blog session has ended. Stay tuned to Moneycontrol for more updates.
The youth who took part in the violent protests against Agnipath scheme would not find a place in the armed forces, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje said.
Addressing reporters in Udupi, she said those who indulged in violence are not patriotic. The young people interested in the scheme can join with the consent of their parents. No one would be forced to be part of the armed forces. Unnecessary controversy is being created over the scheme as in the case of the farm laws and it is part of a conspiracy, Karandlaje alleged.
IANS has reported that the Railway Police has identified key accused in June 17 violence at Secunderabad railway station. 20 year oldMadhusudhan, who hails from Yellareddy in Kamareddy district, has been named as accused number one in the case.
Around 30 people, including Congress leaders and workers, were on Monday detained as a precautionary measure by police in Noida while they were moving towards Delhi to participate in anti-Agnipath protests, officials said.
Haryana government orders closure of all private coaching institutions in Mahendragarh and Jhajjar districts with the protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme getting intense. (IANS)
As protests against the Centre's newly-launched Agnipath military recruitment scheme intensified, Congress leaders on Monday met President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss the Agnipath scheme and police atrocities against MPs.
Speaking to ANI, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the president was informed that the Agnipath scheme was neither discussed with any committee nor was presented in Parliament which is a violation of democratic rights.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said people joining the armed forces through 'Agnipath' scheme will have a golden future ahead of them. Adityanath was explaining the merits of the scheme to some youths who had come to meet him during the Janta Darshan' at Gorakhnath temple.
With the Agnipath scheme facing protests, the BJP asserted that the three services' joint press conference on the issue has left no room for any doubt and urged the youth to make use of the "good opportunity" to be part of the armed forces. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi asked youngsters not to be misled by anyone and added that some people for their selfish interests will try to exploit them.
A plea was filed in the Supreme Court against the Centre's Agnipath scheme alleging that the government has quashed the century-old selection process for the Armed forces which is contrary to the constitutional provisions and without having parliamentary approval.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran backed the Centre’s Agnipath scheme, saying apart from the opportunity for the youth to serve the defence forces, it will also make available a very disciplined and trained workforce for the industry, including the Tata group.
Chandrasekaran joins other industry leaders like Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka, Biocon Ltd Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Apollo Hospitals Group Joint Managing Director Sangita Reddy who have come out in support of the scheme.
The chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are scheduled to separately meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21 and are likely to brief him on Agnipath scheme, government sources told ANI.
More than 500 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme. While 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday termed ”directionless” the Centre’s ’Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, and said her party will work for its withdrawal.
”It is unfortunate that the government has announced a new armed forces’ recruitment policy, which is completely directionless and it has done so while ignoring your voices,” she said in a statement in Hindi, addressed to the youths.
She said, "The Congress stands with you with full force and promises to struggle for your interests and for the withdrawal of this scheme."
