Agneepath!

India sadly has become a land of protests. The reasons could be as varied as avoidable comments on Prophet,  the ED summoning Rahul Gandhi for questioning on National Herald or the latest, on the government’s Agneepath scheme for recruiting baseline armed forces. There seems to be a concerted effort to cause a disturbance, often ending in violence and arson, bringing a bad name for our nation.

The prophet matter ended as the government quickly took remedial steps to douse the anger of the minority community. The protests for Rahul seem unsustainable in the wake of a probable legal action against the Gandhis. Therefore it was a godsent opportunity for the political opposition to create violent protests against the newly announced Agneepath scheme.

The scheme would recruit 46000 youths between 17.5 and 21 years (which could go up to 1.20 lacs) and be trained in special skills while serving the forces for four years. Those selected, called Agniveers, would reduce the average age of the forces from 32 to 26 years, ushering a youthfulness to the forces.

Twenty-five per cent of the Agniveers would be inducted into the regular armed forces, and the rest would get a sizeable sum of approximately Rs.12 lacs after the four-year stint, free of Income-tax. They will have a non-contributory Insurance cover of Rs.48 lacs during their engagement with the Indian Armed forces. A few Indian para-military forces have assured reserving ten per cent of their recruitments from the Agniveers.

Those retiring after the four-year stint in Agneepath would have some finance and a rich skill acquirement to build their careers anew, including as entrepreneurs. The four years would make them more patriotic. After four years as Agniveers, a quarter of them would be inducted into the army, serving for another fifteen years per the services Act.

In many villages, every house has a member serving the armed forces. The youths prepare vigorously, dreaming of donning the olives. The change of rules, whereby recruitments are to be done only via the Agneepath route, may have upset many. The political opposition lost no time precipitating the angst and fanning the protests. The Bharat Bandh called by the opposition against Agneepath is a most regrettable and unpatriotic act. One leader has even stated that BJP is trying to create its cadre, and another leader is questioning the ‘Charitra,’ the character, of the forces.

These reactions are nothing surprising as 2024 is nearing. The opposition will view every action by the government as wicked and scheming by the BJP. However, I wish the opposition kept the armed forces out of petty politics, and we learn a lesson from our neighbouring countries for politicizing the armed forces.

There will be a new agitation, with a new reason, when the memories of Agneepath protests are dusted under the carpet. Those protestors and arsonists who burn trains and government properties can have no place in the armed forces in whatever form and style.

Jai Hind.

Sampath Kumar

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