The youth across the country have been protesting against the newly launched “agnipath” scheme of the Central government. Amidst the ongoing protests, the agitators have called “Bharat bandh” today, against the scheme. As per the report of news agency ANI, the national capital is affected due to the “Bharat Bandh” today, with trains being cancelled and heavy traffic jams. As tweeted by ANI:
“Bharat Bandh over Agnipath: Trains cancelled, traffic jams across Delhi-NCR”
As per the Ministry of Railways, “181 Mail Express and 348 passenger trains have been cancelled due to the ongoing protests against “agnipath”, while 4 Mail Express and 6 passenger trains have been partially cancelled, though no trains are diverted.”
According to the media reports, section 144 has been imposed in UP’s Noida today, as well as a few other states also, and security forces are deployed at various railway stations across the country. Delhi, Gurugram and Noida are witnessing a heavy traffic jam due to the “Bharat Bandh”.
Around 145 FIRs have been lodged against the protestors in Bihar, along with a total of 804 arrests till now. While the military has warned that the youth taking part in protests will not be recruited under the “agnipath” scheme. “There is no space for indiscipline and vandalism in the armed forces. No one can join without police verification,” said Lt. General Puri.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has decided to hold a ‘Satyagraha’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in support of the army aspirants protesting against the ‘agnipath’ scheme. Though, amidst the protests and heavy criticism even from some alliance partners like Capt Amarinder Singh and party’s own MP Varun Gandhi, along with various army veterans, the Central government doesn’t seem to repeal the scheme, as demanded by the agitators.
