Recognise Aspirations of Unemployed Youth! Stop Undermining Armed Forces!
Press Statement, June 17: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) condemns the anti-national and anti-people move by the Narendra Modi led BJP government to introduce “Agnipath” scheme in the armed forces of the country. AIKS is of the firm opinion that the Agnipath scheme—camouflaged with ultra-nationalist rhetoric—is a clear prescription to smuggle in casualisation in the armed forces. It is also a desperate bid to hide its failure in providing employment to India’s youth. This is going to have a disastrous impact on professionalism, quality of the employment and the efficiency of the armed forces. AIKS strongly condemns the BJP-RSS for spreading canards against the protestors and the efforts of the Government to suppress using brute force. This move insults the aspirations of millions of unemployed youth who invest a lot in the hope of getting secure jobs. It also undermines the armed forces of our country.
A government which has betrayed its 2014 promise of 2 crore jobs every year is now trying to fool the unemployed youth by announcing a fixed term contract (four years) without pension. Historically youth from the peasant families constitute a major chunk of soldiers in the armed forces. This historical and organic connection between the peasantry and the armed forces was evident in the open and subtle support expressed by several serving and retired armed personnel to the historic farmers’ struggle against the draconian farm laws.
AIKS also has a serious concern that “Agnipath” scheme will lead to militarisation of the Indian society which is already infected with state sponsored fascistic violence against religious and ethnic minorities. The BJP Government driven by the Sangh ideologue Savarkar’s concept of Hinduisation of the nation and militarisation of the Hindus is playing with the life of innocent youth looking for secure employment. AIKS demands that instead of gimmicks the union government should scientifically address the unemployment question and the agrarian crisis in the countryside. Recruitment ban in different Public Sector Undertakings like railways, in Universities etc., also should be revoked.
AIKS calls upon all its units along with All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) to organise peaceful country-wide protests against this fraudulent scheme on 21st June, 2022 without falling into provocation of the BJP Government and the Sangh Parivar.
Sd/- Sd/-
Ashok Dhawale Hannan Mollah
President General Secretary
