Farmers' Sons Do Not Benefit from The Agnipath Scheme, Says BKU Leader Rakesh Tikait; Calls for a National Protest Movement

Rakesh Tikait, a farmer leader and spokesman for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has called for a protest against the recently established Agnipath army recruitment process, which is being opposed by young people.

Tikait claims that the new recruitment plan is not in the best interests of farmers’ sons. Farmers will begin a nationwide movement against the central government's scheme, according to him.

According to a story in the Hindi daily Hindustan, he asked the government what a farmer's kid would do after retiring from the army after four years of duty. Tikait told reporters in Haridwar that the government must respond to the concerns raised by stakeholders.

"Previously, the service period was 15 to 21 years. It has now been shortened to four years. What will a youngster do? The government should also enact a policy prohibiting legislators from running for election a second-time "Tikait explained to reporters.

"The army's work will be done by the nation's youth for only four years, whereas an MLA will serve until he or she is 80 years old. The nation's youth, like MLAs, should be entitled to a pension. The farmers have figured out how to go to Delhi "He went on to say.

Meanwhile, the farmers' head has encouraged the youth to avoid causing harm to public property and to demonstrate peacefully. There have been extensive protests against the 'Agnipath' scheme in at least seven states, with frustrated youth damaging public property and torching trains and stations.

In response to the protests, the central government changed the rules and made a one-time age relaxation to 23 years for youth to participate in the recruitment process.

About Agnipath Scheme:

The Agnipath Scheme is a new scheme introduced by the Indian government on June 14, 2022, to recruit soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three armed military services. The Agnipath Scheme will be the sole means of military recruiting. Agniveers, a new military rank, will be assigned to those recruited under this system. The lack of consultation and public discourse surrounding the scheme's implementation has been criticized. The scheme is set to go into effect in September 2022.