Mass protests have erupted across the country against the new short-term military recruitment program.
Bhopal:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, secured recruits from the armed forces marching out in pink briefs under the ‘Agnipath’ plan, and that has not affected angry protesters on Friday as violence, vandalism and arson in parts of the state continued to rage.
A day after violent clashes and rock-throwing in Gwalior, violent protests were reported from Laxmibai Nagar railway station in Indore.
Protesters blocked two trains and left at least five police officers injured – including a sub-inspector who was hit in the ear with a rock. Army soldiers were called to guard the canton town of Mhow in Indore to put an end to the raging crowds.
The protests defied calls for calm from Chief Minister Chouhan, who announced on Wednesday that ‘Agniveers’ will be given priority in the recruitment of state police forces.
“Soldiers serving under the Agnipath plan will be given priority in recruitment into the Madhya Pradesh Police Force,” he had said.
But his promises have been questioned by ex-servicemen who have been protesting since April, claiming that the state government has lifted the 10 percent reservation with the police for former army personnel this year.
Anil Singh, a retired soldier who took part in the protests, said: “Since 1999, we have been given a 10 percent reservation, but the state government has stopped it. We are asking the state government to consider our request.”
Some ex-servicemen have also approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which has warned the state government and the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) against granting the benefit of reservation to retired army men.
In a petition, petitioners claimed ex-servicemen were not getting what they were promised in the 2019 MPPSC recruitment. By the standards, ex-servicemen enjoy relaxation in standard physical tests for state police recruiting.
Ten percent of the vacancies are reserved for them in Group ‘C’ posts and 20 percent in Group ‘D’ posts. They are also given priority in allocating industrial lots, sheds and Fair Price Shops.
Recently, more than 30,000 candidates have applied for 6,000 officer positions in the Madhya Pradesh Police Force. According to the rules, about 600 seats would be reserved for ex-servicemen, but only six were selected.
Lawyers for petitioner Narinder Pal Singh Ruprah said: “I filed the first petition on behalf of Ajit Singh and 32 others, claiming that not a single ex-serviceman had been selected in all of Madhya Pradesh, which is illegal under the rules. The reserved seats cannot be transferred anywhere.”
“If they want it, a decision will have to be made that we will not get ex-servicemen and there will be an order from the competent authority. Only then can the post of ex-servicemen be assigned to the general category,” said Mr. Ruprah .
“In the first petition, I was instructed that no candidate was selected from among ex-servicemen. We also filed an RTI and found out that only six candidates had been selected from all over Madhya Pradesh. It is very unfortunate,” he said.
“While 3,000 ex-servicemen were to be selected, only six people were actually arrested. I have filed a petition saying this is wrong,” added Mr Ruprah.
Questions sent to the government about the charges went unanswered. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who oversees the police, was not available for comment.
Massive protests have erupted across the country against the new short-term military recruitment program unveiled Tuesday as job seekers oppose the four-year term and none of the usual retirement benefits for 75 percent of those selected.
