'Agnipath' Protests Highlights: Nearly 600 Trains Cancelled Today

Agniveer Recruitment Starts Soon: What They'll Get, How To Apply For Agnipath Indian Army
The Indian Army today issued a notification that the registration under the 'Agnipath' military defence scheme will start next month.

'Agnipath' row: All coaching institutes ordered shut in Haryana's Mahendragarh and Jhajjar

Congress leaders meet President
Congress leaders meet President Ram Nath Kovind, raise mistreatment of MPs by police for protesting against Rahul's ED questioning, Agnipath scheme.

"If Modi Follows The Path Of Hitler...": Congress Leader At 'Agnipath' Protest
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahai on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behaving like Adolf Hitler and "will die like Hitler" if he follows the path of the German dictator.

'Agnipath': Army issues notification for recruitment, registration starts July
Even as protests and promises continue over the Agnipath defence recruitment policy, the Indian Army has issued rally notification.

Youth Federation Members Protest Against 'Agnipath' In Chennai

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) cadres protest near Sasthri Bhavan in Chennai's Nungambakkam against the Agnipath recruitment Scheme on Monday.

DYFI cadres raised slogans against the Central government and demanded the rollback of the Agnipath Scheme.

Chennai police placed barricades stopping the protesters from reaching Sasthri Bhavan.

Protesters tried to pull and throw the barricades. They were detained by Chennai Police.

Security Tightened In UP's Gorakhpur

Amid protests against the Centre's new Agnipath recruitment scheme, security has been ramped up in many places including Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur.

Speaking to ANI about the situation preparedness, RPF IG Tarique Ahmad said, "We have made full arrangements. Everyone including GRP, RPF and civil police has been deployed...I appeal to the students not to get misled by anti-social elements."

"Timely announcements are being made, and there is a help desk for the public. Passengers can get all the information at the help desk," added RPF IG Tarique Ahmad on trains' cancellation amid Bharat Bandh calls over the Agnipath Scheme.

Heavy Traffic Jam In Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway

The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway is witnessing a heavy traffic jam following a call for Bharat Bandh against the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme.

A massive pile-up was seen on the expressway near the Sirhaul border on Monday as the Delhi Police was inspecting every vehicle before it entered the capital, to ensure law and order. The gridlock began around 8:30 am and grew worse during the peak hours.

Army Issues Notification For Recruitment Under 'Agnipath'

The Army on Monday issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.

The Army said the online registration on the force's recruitment website is mandatory for all the job aspirants under the new model.

It said the online registration will commence from July.

The Army said 'Agniveers' would form a distinct rank in the Indian Army, which would be different from any other existing ranks.

BJP Trying To Create Its Own Armed Cadre Base Through 'Agnipath': Mamata Banerjee

Terming the scheme as an insult to the armed forces, Banerjee also wondered whether the BJP plans to hire 'Agniveer' soldiers as "watchmen" at its party offices, after their four-year service period.

"The BJP is trying to create its own armed cadre base through this scheme. What will they do after four years? The party wants to give arms into the hands of the youth," the TMC boss said in the assembly.

Protesters Block Roads In Haryana, Security Ramped Up

More protests were witnessed in parts of Haryana on Monday against Agnipath as armed forces aspirants blocked roads and demanded that the scheme be rolled back.

In Fatehabad, a group of youth blocked the Lal Batti Chowk, while several others staged a protest on roads in Rohtak district.

Amid continuing protests in Haryana and Punjab against the scheme, which seeks to recruit jawans into the army, the navy and the air force for a four-year-period, security has been stepped up at key installations in the two states, officials said.

Youth Congress Workers Stop Train Near Connaught Place, Several Detained

The track was cleared by police and security personnel and train movement resumed after about half an hour, sources said.

Several protesters were detained as police personnel tried to remove them from the tracks and the station, a senior police official added.

529 Trains Cancelled Due To 'Agnipath' Protests

More than 500 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.

While 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.

The Railways also partially cancelled four mail/express trains.

Traffic Jams, Road Closures In Delhi Over 'Agnipath', Bharat Bandh Protests

Massive traffic jams were witnessed at Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyway, Meerut Expressway, Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, Pragati Maidan and Delhi-Gurugram border, reported PTI.

Long queues of slow-moving vehicles were seen in these areas.

Jams At Delhi Borders Amid Checks

The Delhi-Gurugram Expressway on Monday saw heavy traffic jams following a call for Bharat Bandh against the military recruitment scheme- Agnipath- by some organisations.

A massive jam was seen on the expressway near the Sarhaul border as Delhi Police checked vehicles. The organisations have demanded a rollback of the scheme.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, will stage protests against the Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar in Delhi today. In Faridabad and Noida, prohibitory orders have been imposed that prohibit the assembly of four or more persons.

Schools Closed In Jharkhand Amid Bharat Bandh Call

All schools in Jharkhand will remain closed on Monday in the wake of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations against the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme launched by the Central government last week.

Security personnel have been deployed at various locations in Ranchi amid protests against the Army recruitment scheme.

"JAC exams for class 11 were scheduled for today. New dates will be announced for today's exams," Sister Mary Grace, Principal, Ursuline Convent School and Inter College told ANI.

Over 80 trains Cancelled Amid Protests

A total of 18 East-bound train services scheduled from different Northern Railway terminals have been cancelled today, according to Northern Railways.

Train services of the Western Railway zone were affected yesterday as well.

Congress To Meet President Kovind, Demand Rollback Of 'Agnipath'

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said that the Congress will hold Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar on Monday and demand the President withdraw the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme.

"We'll sit on Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar today, and in the evening at 5 pm we'll meet the President and demand that the 'Agnipath' scheme be withdrawn," said Congress' Ajay Maken.

Security Forces Deployed At Vijayawada Railway Station

Security forces were deployed at Vijayawada Junction railway station on Monday in wake of Bharat Bandh called by some organisations, against the Agnipath scheme.

Barbed wires were also put up. Additional police forces have been deployed in all prime locations of the city.

Security Forces Deployed In Bihar

In view of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations as a protest against the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme, security personnel was seen deployed across Patna as a precautionary measure on Monday.

The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three services of the Armed Forces called 'Agnipath' and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in several states on Monday amid protests against the centre's new 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme.