Agnipath protests: JD (U) asks Centre to reconsider scheme

PATNA: In yet another instance of difference of opinion between the NDA allies in the state, two top functionaries of JD(U) – party president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha – on Thursday appealed to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to review Agnipath scheme following protests over it across the country.
BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi, on the other hand, has appealed to the Bihar government to give preference to ‘Agniveers’ in jobs.
However, JD(U) functionaries have demanded withdrawal of the scheme. “Disappointment, dissatisfaction and fear of unemployment have crept in the minds of youths after the announcement of Agnipath scheme. The Centre should immediately review the scheme as it is also associated with the security of the country,” Lalan tweeted on Thursday.
Kushwaha, on the other hand, said the violent protests against Agnipath scheme are happening on its own. “The anger and disappointment among youths is clearly palpable. Reports are coming from different places that students have suddenly hit streets. In such circumstances, their concerns must be addressed. We have requested the central government to reconsider its decision,” Kushwaha said, adding if it is very difficult to reconsider the scheme, it should at least be suspended for the time being.
Another senior JD (U) functionary and state parliamentary affairs minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav has said the Centre should talk to the representatives of agitating youths. “As the youths are protesting against the Agnipath scheme, the Centre should talk to them and their unions,” Yadav said.
Meanwhile, former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi has appealed to the state government to give preference to Agniveers in jobs. “Union home minister Amit Shah announced on Wednesday that Agniveers will be given preference in CAPF recruitment. Many state governments have also announced similar preferences in state police recruitment for Agniveers. Thus, I would request the Bihar government as well to give preference to Agniveers in Bihar police recruitment,” Modi said.
Earlier this week, CM Nitish Kumar had taken a veiled dig at Union minister Amit Shah's remark on change in education syllabus related to the Mughal empire. Nitish had said, “How can they change history?” Earlier at a book release function in New Delhi on June 10, Shah had stressed on the need of revisiting history, saying most historians in India gave prominence to recording the history of Mughals.