The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella organisation of about 300 farmers’ associations, announced here on Saturday that it would launch joint agitations with several youth organisations and the United Front of Ex-Servicemen against the Agnipath scheme. At a joint press conference here, the farmers’ leaders and defence veterans said ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Sammelans (meetings)‘ would be held at various centres in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab between August 7 and 14.
The leaders said the Agnipath scheme should be rolled back instantly and all the notifications issued under it must be withdrawn. “The time-tested method of regular, permanent recruitment must continue,” said a joint statement issued by the SKM, the United Front of Ex-Servicemen and several youth organisations. Major General Satbir Singh (retd.), Group Captain V.K. Gandhi (retd.), Hanan Mollah, Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Aishee Ghosh and Manish addressed the press conference.
They said the pending vacancies (about 1.25 lakh) and the current year vacancies (about 60,000) should be filled immediately following the pre-existing method of regular and permanent recruitment. “The recruitment process already initiated must be completed with an age relaxation of two years in lieu of non-recruitment in the last two years. All cases against anti-Agnipath protesters must be withdrawn and the arrested youth must be released forthwith. There should be no privatisation in the defence sector; the government must accept its responsibility for national security and protection of the honour and morale of armed forces,” they said.
