Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik on Sunday said the Agnipath scheme was “against the interests of the youth”. He appealed to the Prime Minister to withdraw the scheme and requested youth to not to take the path of violence to register their protest.
Addressing the media during a private visit to Baghpat, Mr. Malik said the scheme would spoil the future of youngsters and they would not be able to find a match [in marriage] and suitable employment after four years in service.
Referring to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Malik said “those who were in their fourth year” [of elected posts] were promising jobs to the Agniveers. “What’s the guarantee that he [Mahohar Lal Khattar] would be back at the helm?” he asked.
Mr. Malik took umbrage with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Kailash Vijayvarghiya’s statement that he would appoint Agniveers to guard the BJP’s office.
The scheme, Mr. Malik said, once again showed the growing distance between the government and rural India. “The government is yet to fulfil the farmers’ demand to make a law on the Minimum Support Price (MSP),” he said.
Known for speaking out against the government, Mr. Malik said he was not seeking any political career after his stint as Governor but that he would continue to speak for the interests of farmers.
