GUMLA: Agnipath protests on Saturday spread to Gumla, the home district of Lance Naik Albert Ekka — the hero of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War — as Army aspirants demonstrated in the town, demanding the rollback of the new recruitment scheme.
The protesters took out a rally from the Albert Ekka Chowk Stadium amid heavy police deployment. Holding placards, they shouted slogans against Union defence minister Ranjanth Singh and the Centre, demanding the resumption of stalled Army recruitment process.
Sanjit Oraon, a protester, said, “After clearing the necessary tests two years ago, I have been waiting for the third and final round. Now, we will have to apply afresh, The short duration of the job (four years) under the new policy is not acceptable and we want the old process of recruitment to be restored.”
Another protester, Nelson Bhagat, said, “Looking at our future, the new recruitment rules are not good and they must be scrapped.”
An former Army officer from Kamdara block, Manohar Topno, said, “Around 30% of the tribals from Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, and Lohardaga districts join the Army regularly. Since they are physically fit and hardworking, they get selected. But now, they are upset as the new scheme might make their future uncertain.”
“If youngsters aren’t taken into confidence, they will lose interest in taking up jobs in the Army, which may not be good for the country,” he added.
