RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, cornered the Centre on the Agnipath military recruitment scheme on Tuesday, asking it to explain whether this was an MGNREGA-like initiative for the educated youth, or there was a “hidden agenda” of the BJP's ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) behind it.
Mr. Yadav, at a press conference in the Capital, announced that the RJD and all its allies would lead a march from the Bihar assembly to the Raj Bhavan in Patna.
Bihar is seeing widespread protests, including incidents of arson and vandalism, against the short term recruitment scheme. Mr. Yadav appealed to the youth to carry on the protest peacefully.
He dismissed BJP's claims that the RJD and other Opposition parties were responsible for instigating these protests. “How can Opposition be held responsible? We are not in power. It is for those in power to ensure that law and order is maintained and they create the necessary situation where the youth are not forced to march on the roads,” Mr. Yadav said.
He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue. The government, he said, came to power promising One Rank, One Pension, and instead it was delivering No Rank, No Pension. “The BJP is playing a vulgar joke on the country. To the youth who is ready to make the supreme sacrifice for the country, they are selling this scheme as one with assured return of ₹12 lakh. Why don't the brave BJP spokespersons to go to the border, we will give them ₹24 lakh,” he added.
Mr. Yadav refused to let the JD(U) off the hook. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has urged the government to roll back the scheme. Mr. Yadav said that the BJP and JD(U) both boast about a double engine government and the JD(U)'s criticism was as good as attacking its own government.
He posed 20 questions to the government, saying the youth of the country demanded clarity. Would the young men recruited under the scheme get 90-day leave like regular soldiers? Would they get gratuity? Would they get other benefits like access to military canteen or medical facilities at the end off their service, he asked.
