More BJP-ruled states announce reservation to Agniveers in state jobs

NEW DELHI: As the BJP-led government faces heat from the opposition over the Agnipath scheme, several BJP-governed state governments have come to its rescue announcing reservation to Agniveers after retirement in state jobs .

BJP which now depends on its allies after failing to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha elections also received requests to review the scheme from them including Nitish Kumar's JDU and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (RV).

Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh announces reservation

The Rajasthan government on Saturday announced that they will provide reservation for Agniveers in the recruitment of jail and forest guards and state police.

"The Rajasthan government has made a provision of reservation in state police, jail guard and forest guard recruitments for the Agniveers who protect the country's borders with a sense of dedication and patriotism," said chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma's office.

However, the percentage of reservation in these services for Angiveers was not disclosed.

The Arunachal Pradesh government also announced that they will provide training to local youths to prepare for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme. They also announced that retired Agniveers will be given preference in state's police, emergency and fire services.

"The government of Arunachal Pradesh will facilitate training for local youths to prepare them for recruitment as Agniveers under the AGNIPATH scheme," chief minister Khandu said in a post on X.

Multiple states announced reservation earlier

Several BJP-led states including Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odishahad announced reservation to Agniveers in state jobs.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath stated that UP government will provide jobs to Agniveers in police service and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) on "priority basis".

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Friday announced that his government will provide reservations to Agniveers in the recruitment of police and armed forces after the end of their services.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also announced a similar decision on the occassion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

"We will make provisions and bring an Act to give reservation to them in government services. We are working on this plan. We will make use of their skills and discipline in various government departments," Dhami said.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also announced a similar decision. "We will make provisions and bring an Act to give reservation to them in government services. We are working on this plan. We will make use of their skills and discipline in various government departments," Dhami said.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced similar move and said 10 per cent quota and five-year age relaxation will be given to the Agniveers in uniform services.

Nayab Saini-led Haryana government had announced the similar move on July 17.

Chief minister Nayab Saini said the state government will provide 10 percent reservation to Agniveers in Haryana in direct recruitment to the posts of constable, mining guard, forest guard, jail warden and SPO.

Reservation for CAPFs

The home ministry on Saturday announced a 10% quota as well as upper age limit relaxation of three years for Agniveers for recruitment into the Central armed paramilitary forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles.

Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted: “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers”.

In another tweet, Shah said: “The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit”.

'Will cancel Agnipath Scheme'

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced on Saturday that the Agnipath scheme will be cancelled within 24 hours if they comes to power, a day after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath declared reservations for retired Agniveers.

The INDIA bloc, which includes the Samajwadi Party, had promised during the Lok Sabha election campaigns to scrap this short-term military recruitment scheme.

"As soon as we come to power, the short-term 'Agniveer' military recruitment that compromises the security of the country and plays with the future of the soldiers will be cancelled within 24 hours. This is our demand on 'Agniveer'. The old recruitment (model) should be reinstated," said Akhilesh Yadav in a post on X.

'Diluting quality of army training'

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor attacking the Centre's Agniveer scheme, said that by training soldiers for just six months and allowing them to serve for only 3-4 years, the government is undermining the quality of training and the professional opportunities available to the Indian Army.

PM targets opposition over Agniveer scheme

PM Modi in his address at the Kargil Vijay Diwas Shradhanjali Samaroh in Drass, called Agnipath scheme an example of necessary reforms done by the army. He said some people were playing politics over a sensitive issue related to national security and rubbished claims that the Agnipath scheme was launched to save pension money.

"The aim of Agnipath is to make the forces young ... The aim of Agnipath is to keep the armies continuously fit for war," he said.

"For decades, there have been discussions on making the armed forces young, from Parliament to various committees. The average age of Indian soldiers being higher than the global average has been raising concerns. Therefore, this topic was raised in many committees for years. But the will to solve this challenge related to the country's security was not shown earlier," PM Modi said.