Cuttack: Amid the protests against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces also took place in several parts of Odisha including Cuttack.
Reportedly, hundreds of youth who are aspiring for a career in the Indian Army, are agitating near the Army Recruiting Office.
The aspirants claimed that they have cleared their medical and physical tests for recruitment in the Army last year and have been waiting for the written examination, Common Entrance Examination (CEE). However, it has been canceled.
The protesting youth demanded that the ‘Agnipath’ scheme should be withdrawn and the written exam for their recruitment should be held as scheduled.
The security forces deployed at the venue resorted to lathi-charge on the protestors to bring the situation under control.
Moreover, the violent protests against the scheme continued in different parts of country including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Telangana on Friday with agitators disrupting the railway services and vehicular movement.
Several organizations have given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Centre to withdraw the Agnipath scheme or else they will call for Bharat Bandh.
Notably, several students along with the members of All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Friday staged a protest over the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and demanded its rollback. Holding placards, the students raised slogans against the government and sat in between the old Delhi Police headquarters and the Gate No 5 of the ITO Delhi Metro Station.
The Union Cabinet had on Tuesday approved the ‘Agnipath’ recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces. The youth selected under this scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’. About 46,000 of them will be recruited this year.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the scheme is a transformative initiative and under it the Indian youngsters will get an opportunity to serve in armed forces.
“The scheme will increase employment opportunities and aims to create a youthful profile of the Armed forces,” Singh said.
However, the scheme, termed as a historic and transformative measure by the government, has met unprecedented levels of agitations and protests in several states across India.
Ms Kalinga