Central trade unions, farmers' organizations affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, and agricultural worker outfits have pledged their support for nationwide protests against the Agnipath scheme of recruitment into the defense forces.
The protests were equated with farmers' struggle against the three farm laws, and the organizations urged the Centre to withdraw Agnipath in the same way it repealed the three Acts. They have also decided to develop a joint strategy to support national-level protests.
"Such a backward step will severely compromise and negatively affect the quality of employment and efficiency of our armed forces, militating against the country's overall security as well as the quality of employment, determination, and professionalism, much to the detriment of our national interests," CITU general secretary Tapan Sen stated.
He claimed that young soldiers trained to military standards and deployed under the Agnipath scheme would be discharged after four years and thrown into an uncertain future, posing serious risks to society as a whole under the current brand of authoritarian and divisive governance.
Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the All-India Trade Union Congress, said the Narendra Modi government's string of policy decisions over the last eight years had caused great suffering to ordinary people.
"The list goes on and on, with the result being an ever-widening gap between rich and poor, unsustainable price increases, all-time high unemployment, and blatant lawlessness by the government itself, which uses bulldozers against suspects.
Agnipath is yet another step that will lead the country into an uncertain future with unknown consequences "She stated.
According to Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, General Secretary of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, such a scheme was launched at a time when unemployment and inflation were at their highest.
Rakesh Tikait announces a nationwide movement against the new army recruitment process, claiming that the Agnipath scheme is not in the best interests of farmers' sons.
Rakesh Tikait says “Agnipath Scheme is Not in the Best Interests of Farmers' Son"
Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and spokesman for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has confirmed a protest against the recently launched Agnipath army recruitment process, which is being opposed by young aspirants.
Tikait stated that the new recruitment plan is not in the best interests of farmers' sons. Farmers, he claims, will launch a nationwide protest against the central government's scheme.
