'Protests due to misinformation': Navy Chief says did not anticipate stir over Agnipath scheme

Reacting to the ongoing violence over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, the Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday said that he "did not anticipate any protests like this."

"Protests are happening due to misinformation & misunderstanding of the scheme," he added.

Admiral Kumar said that Agnipath is the result of work lasting almost a year and a half and that the scheme is the single biggest transformation in the Indian military.

The remarks came as anti-Agnipath protests entered the third day across multiple states. At least one person has been killed as the protests spread to Telangana.

Earlier, the air force chief said that the scheme will benefit the youth.

“The Government has announced Agnipath scheme under which youth will be able to join armed forces. The age criteria will be 17.5 to 21 years. Happy to announce that for the first recruitment, the upper age limit has been revised to 23 years. It will benefit the youth. Air Force recruitment will begin on June 24," ANI quoted Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari as saying.

The Agnipath scheme

The Centre on Tuesday launched the Agnipath scheme. As part of the initiative, 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited for a four-year duration in 2022.

Up to 25 percent of the Agvineers will be retained while the rest will let go with a severance package at the end of their service.

With inputs from agencies

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