The coordinating body of Manipur Trade Unions and farmer organisations extended solidarity to Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s nationwide protest against Agnipath scheme of recruitment in the armed forces, which was held across the country on Friday (June 24).
Addressing a press meet on Friday in Imphal, Manipur CPI secretary L Sotin said the coordinating body of trade union Manipur and farmer organisations of Manipur is extending support and solidarity to the nationwide protest for youth of Manipur.
Sotin described the scheme as playing with the future of the youth and dreams of unemployed youth. It is a matter of shame for the country that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who started his victory campaign by rallying ex-servicemen with the promise of “One Rank One Pension”, has now launched the Agnipath scheme of “No Rank No Pension”, he added.
Sotin said that following the protest, a national level convention of Samyukta Kisan Morcha has been scheduled on July 3 in Ghaziabad. Representatives from Manipur will also attend, he said.
The scheme betrays the youth who were seeking permanent employment in the armed forces but are being offered a job only for four years and that too, with no rank, no pension basis, Sotin said and added that the youth’s future will be complicated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that two crore jobs will be created every year but that assurance turned into implementation of various schemes in the name of giving jobs, Sotin asserted.
“Implementing Agnipath scheme of army recruitment is a hidden agenda of BJP for ‘Hindu Rashtriya’ by gathering youths”, Sotin charged. It is like Germany's fascist government adopted by Hitler, he added.
The Agnipath Scheme of recruitment of Army for four years is to train youth for BJP’s workers, it will not solve unemployment problem, he said.
“The scheme should be withdrawn or else, protests and agitations will continue until the scheme is withdrawn”, Sotin said.
Sotin mentioned that several parts of the country witnessed protests after the announcement of the scheme to recruit youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years, he said.
Sotin, by representing all farmer unions of the state, appealed for rolling back the scheme stating that it is not in favour of the youth.
The press meet was attended by secretary of CPI (M) Kshetrimayum Santa; INTUC president Yumnam Rana Pratap; Loumee Marup Manipur vice-president N Thoiba Singh; Manipur Loumee Lup secretary H Ibobi Singh and Nupi Marup secretary L Sumatibala Devi.
