Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- amid countrywide protests and severe opposition criticism over the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme -- today said some decisions "may look unfair" at first, but will help in nation-building later. "Several decisions look unfair at present. In time, those decisions will help in building the nation," PM Modi said at a public address in Bengaluru, but without making any mention of the scheme.
Several opposition parties, including the Congress, have dubbed "Agnipath" the latest blunder of the government, part of a series that includes demonetisation and the farm laws. Many of the critics have predicted a rollback.
The government, however, is standing firm. The military has declared that this was a long-awaited change in tune with the global trend that is increasingly focussed on the use of cutting-edge technology in warfare and a younger age profile for soldiers that's more in tune with it.
The terms of the Agnipath scheme -- recruitment between the ages of 17.5 and 21 years and mandatory retirement for most after four years without any gratuity or pension -- however, has generated fury in the backdrop of largescale unemployment and economic depression.
The government's offer of several avenues of employment for "Agniveers" -- including in police, paramilitary forces, home and defence ministries -- has failed to mollify protesters who have been on the warpath since the June 14 announcement.
Today, several organisations called for an all-India strike during which more than 500 trains were cancelled by the railways, which has suffered major loss of property due to arson and vandalism by the protesters.
On Sunday, the tri-services came up with a broad schedule of enrolment and the Army today issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the scheme. The process will begin in July.
Har Ghar Tirange "Popular Across India": PM On Eve Of Independence Day In Pics: 10 Years Of PM Modi's Symbolic Headgears On Independence Day India Observes 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day', Pays Tribute To Victims 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Trump, Musk Groove To Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' In AI-Video Now Viral "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case US Judge Says "Monopolist" Google Can't Avoid App Store Reforms NASA To Decide Stranded Starliner Astronauts' Route Home By End Of Month Mob Vandalises Hospital During Protest Over Kolkata Horror Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.