New Delhi: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday termed the Agniveer model as the biggest human resource management change in the Indian Army and said protests in some parts of the country over the newly launched Agneepath scheme are being fueled by misinformation and misunderstanding. He also said that he never expected that the plan would lead to such massive and violent outrage. “I did not expect any such protest. We worked on the Agneepath plan for almost one and a half years,” the Navy Chief told ANI. Describing the Agneepath plan as “transformative”, the Navy Chief Admiral said that it is a plan made in India and made for India.
“Agneepath scheme is a transformative plan. It is a plan made in India and made for India. No, I did not expect such protests. I want to tell the protestors not to be violent and remain peaceful, Admiral R Hari Kumar told ANI.
After protests broke out in some parts of the country by protesters demanding the withdrawal of the plan, the Navy Chief Admiral said, “I want to ask the people not to protest and not be violent. They should understand the plan.” We should and should remain peaceful. This is one. Golden opportunity for youth to serve the country.”
He also urged the protesters to read and understand the Agneepath scheme and said that it is an opportunity to serve the nation. Commenting further on the ongoing protest, the Admiral said the agitation was taking place due to “misinformation and misunderstanding” of the plan.
“It is a plan in which I was part of the initial planning team and worked on it for about a year and a half. And, now we are seeing this plan being completed and introduced in the armed forces,” he said.
The Agneepath scheme for recruitment into the armed forces was launched by the three service chiefs in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this week, which has led to protests in many parts of the country.
One person died and several trains were torched in the ongoing protests in Telangana’s Secunderabad area. In the wake of the protests, the Center amended the upper age limit for Agneepath for youth recruited under the Agneepath scheme, raising it to 23 years as a one-time measure.
On raising the age limit for the first recruitment cycle, the Navy Chief said, “We wanted to give an opportunity to the youth who would otherwise be missed and are in the age group of 21 to 23. We are giving them a chance to be a part of it. Contribute to the service of the nation by becoming Agniveer in Agneepath scheme and armed forces”.
The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved the Agneepath Recruitment Scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces. The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers and will serve in the armed forces for a period of four years.