Editor's Pick: Fury against Agnipath rages in many States

Massive protests demanding the rollback of the Agnipath scheme continued across the country for the third day on Friday. One protester was killed in police firing in Secunderabad in Telangana and hundreds of people injured in various places in the violence that marked the agitation against the new armed forces recruitment scheme. Scores of people have been arrested or detained by the police in various States. The Opposition parties, trade unions and outfits of students, youth and farmers pledged support for the protests and demanded immediate reversal of the scheme that “contractualises” Army jobs. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the one-time waiver, increasing the upper age limit of recruitment from 21 years to 23 years for the first cycle of the Agnipath scheme indicates that the “government cares for our youth.” But through the day, trains and other public property remained the target of the protesters with over 340 trains getting affected due to protests. One protester was killed and 13 others were injured when police opened fire to quell a violent mob at the Secunderabad railway station on Friday. About 1,000 Army recruitment job aspirants entered the platforms in the morning and started damaging railway property. The gathering was apparently mobilised using four WhatsApp groups created by these job aspirants. The vast majority of these protesters hailed from north Telangana and some from south Telangana. They said they had appeared for the physical and medical tests and were waiting for the written exam which was postponed on account of the pandemic. Bihar remained at the centre of the storm of protests. Protesting aspirants attacked Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal’s residence and business establishments in his hometown Bettiah and set the BJP office in Madhepura on fire. They also vandalised the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi in Bettiah. Over half-a-dozen trains and several vehicles were set on fire. Protests erupted in several districts of West Bengal too. Though there was no report of any violence, rail and vehicular movement was disrupted at various places. In Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, hundreds demonstrated at the Khereshwar temple crossing. At least two public transport buses were set on fire in Aligarh and several official vehicles were damaged. In neighbouring Jattari, the vehicle of the panchayat chairman was set on fire. The protesters tried to storm into the panchayat office. Around half-a-dozen police personnel sustained injuries and police vehicles were vandalised in Haryana’s Jind amid Statewide protests for the second day in a row. Prohibitive orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in Gurugram and Faridabad restricting free movement and gathering of more than four people. An editorial in The Hindu said the Centre must put the plan for recruitment of all non-officer appointments to the three wings of the Indian armed forces on hold and revisit it in consultation with political parties and a wider range of experts. With unemployment a major policy challenge and the thrust of the Agnipath plan seemingly nothing more but a cost-cutting measure makes this story important. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Playing with fire: On Agnipath Bubble in the air: On regulating cryptocurrencies The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Which country has the largest Muslim-majority population in the world? This country’s Foreign Minister was recently in India. Qatar Indonesia United Arab Emirates Iran To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 18 JUNE 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Fury against Agnipath rages in many States Massive [protests demanding the rollback of the Agnipath scheme]( continued across the country for the third day on Friday. One protester was killed in police firing in Secunderabad in Telangana and hundreds of people injured in various places in the violence that marked the agitation against the new armed forces recruitment scheme. Scores of people have been arrested or detained by the police in various States.  The Opposition parties, trade unions and outfits of students, youth and farmers pledged support for the [protests]( and demanded immediate reversal of the scheme that “contractualises” Army jobs. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the one-time waiver, increasing the upper age limit of recruitment from 21 years to 23 years for the first cycle of the Agnipath scheme indicates that the “government cares for our youth.” But through the day, trains and other public property remained the target of the protesters with over 340 trains getting affected due to protests. One protester was killed and 13 others were injured when police opened fire to quell a violent mob at the Secunderabad railway station on Friday. About 1,000 Army recruitment job aspirants entered the platforms in the morning and started damaging railway property. The gathering was apparently mobilised using four WhatsApp groups created by these job aspirants. The vast majority of these protesters hailed from north Telangana and some from south Telangana. They said they had appeared for the physical and medical tests and were waiting for the written exam which was postponed on account of the pandemic.  Bihar remained at the centre of the storm of protests. Protesting aspirants attacked Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal’s residence and business establishments in his hometown Bettiah and set the BJP office in Madhepura on fire. They also vandalised the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi in Bettiah. Over half-a-dozen trains and several vehicles were set on fire. Protests erupted in several districts of West Bengal too. Though there was no report of any violence, rail and vehicular movement was disrupted at various places. In Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, hundreds demonstrated at the Khereshwar temple crossing. At least two public transport buses were set on fire in Aligarh and several official vehicles were damaged. In neighbouring Jattari, the vehicle of the panchayat chairman was set on fire. The protesters tried to storm into the panchayat office. Around half-a-dozen police personnel sustained injuries and police vehicles were vandalised in Haryana’s Jind amid Statewide protests for the second day in a row. Prohibitive orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in Gurugram and Faridabad restricting free movement and gathering of more than four people. An [editorial in The Hindu]( said the Centre must put the plan for recruitment of all non-officer appointments to the three wings of the Indian armed forces on hold and revisit it in consultation with political parties and a wider range of experts. With unemployment a major policy challenge and the thrust of the Agnipath plan seemingly nothing more but a cost-cutting measure makes this story important.  Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Playing with fire: On AgnipathÂ]( [Arrow][Bubble in the air: On regulating cryptocurrencies]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Which country has the largest Muslim-majority population in the world? This country’s Foreign Minister was recently in India. - Qatar - Indonesia - United Arab Emirates - Iran To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[Assam flood situation turns critical, nine more deaths reported] Assam flood situation turns critical, nine more deaths reported]( [[India, European Union resume talks for free trade agreement after over eight years] India, European Union resume talks for free trade agreement after over eight years]( [[Malaysia film censors say Disney refused to cut gay scenes in ‘‘Lightyear’‘] Malaysia film censors say Disney refused to cut gay scenes in ‘‘Lightyear’‘]( [[Pakistan may get off terror funding watchdog’s ‘grey list’ after on-site check] Pakistan may get off terror funding watchdog’s ‘grey list’ after on-site check]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](