INDIA-CHENNAI: Youths have been protesting in Chennai since this morning (June 18) in the midst of strong opposition to the central government’s Agni Path project. The youth gathered near the Chennai Chief Secretariat and raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of the Agni Path project.
The youths demanded to hold the exam as the army recruitment exam was not held for two years due to Corona. The youths are carrying banners like ‘We want justice’, ‘Conduct elections’, and the national flag. The police are trying to pacify them.
Youth from Arani, Thiruvannamalai, and Coimbatore districts have participated in this protest. Yesterday some youth protested in Vellore. It is noteworthy that youth from Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, and Tiruvallur areas in Tamil Nadu are joining the army in large numbers.
Notification; Opposition: Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh introduced the ‘Agni Patha’ program on the 13th, which recruits 17.5 to 21-year-olds in the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a contract basis for 4 years. However, there was strong opposition to this project from the youth side. Especially in Bihar, a large number of youths who were undergoing training to join the army are protesting.
The protest that started in the northern states of Bihar, UP, and Haryana spread to Telangana yesterday. Demonstrators set fire to a train parked at the Secunderabad railway station in Telangana yesterday. A young man died in the firing. And a total of 12 trains were torched across the country, including Bihar. The movement affected around 300 trains across the country.
Protest for the 4th day: In this case, the protest continues for the 4th day today. 12 trains were burnt due to this protest. Over 300 train services were affected across the country. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has appealed to those protesting against the fire path project to refrain from violence and not to damage railway property.
In this case, youths have been protesting in Chennai since this morning. Police have been deployed in the protest area as a precaution.