Govt says following old practice, no new change introduced
The Agnipath scheme was back at the centre of a new controversy amid allegations by the Opposition parties that caste and religion were basis for recruitment in the armed forces under this scheme. However, the Government outrightly rejected the allegations and said it was following the age-old practice of recruitment.
The issue was raked up by Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) and Sanjay Singh (AAP) saying the registration form for the army recruitment mentioned that the aspirants have to furnish a caste certificate. Joining them was BJP MP Varun Gandhi, who said if patriotism would be decided “on the basis of caste”. BJP ally JD(U) too questioned the move.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the Opposition’s allegation and said, “It’s just a rumour. Earlier system, existing since the pre-independence era, is going on. No change has been made. Old system is being continued.”
Taking to Twitter, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav shared a screenshot of the notification which asked the aspirants to share their caste certificates.
“Don’t ask the caste of the monk, but ask the caste of the soldier. The BJP Government of the Sangh runs away from the caste census but asks for caste from Agniveer brothers who gave their lives for the service of the country. These castes are being asked because the country’s largest casteist organisation RSS will later sort out Agniveers on the basis of caste,” tweeted Yadav.
Later, in a separate tweet he said,’’ The contractual system ‘Agnipath’ was not implemented till 75 years after independence. More than 75 per cent of soldiers were not laid off after joining the forces. But the casteist Government of the Sangh will reject 75 per cent soldiers on the basis of caste? Why need a caste certificate when there is no reservation in the armed forces?’”
Janata Dal (United) too questioned the need to ask caste certificates from the candidates. “Honourable Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ji, there is no reservation in the armed forces. What is the need to ask for caste certificates from the candidates? The concerned officials should answer,” JDU leader Upendra Kushwaha tweeted.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said there is a bid to create “Jaativeers” using Agniveers. Claiming that it is for the first time in the history of India that caste is being asked in the Army recruitment, AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted, “Do you want to make Agniveer or Jaativeer?
“The ugly face of the Modi Government has come in front of the country. Does Modi ji not consider dalits, backwards, tribals to be eligible for army recruitment?” Singh said.
Denying the allegations, the BJP said, “This has been the norm ever since. The hiring process has not been changed.”
The national spokesperson of BJP, Sambit Patra said, “In 2013, the Indian Army had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that there is no role of caste as far as the selection process is concerned. However, there is a column for caste that is required to be filled during the recruitment process as it is an administrative or operative requirement.”
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, “There are no changes, the details are the same that were collected earlier. Lakhs of youth have applied to become Agniveers. This shows that the Opposition’s propaganda, especially the AAP’s lies, has come before the nation. The AAP does politics of lies.”
“Recruitments are done as per Army Rules 1954 and Defence Service Regulation 1987. Some parties like the AAP try to mislead youth without knowing the truth,” Thakur added.
Officials also said no change was made to the Army recruitment policy for the Agniveer and caste and religion columns were being used since the inception.
The requirement for aspirants to submit caste certificates and if required, religion certificates have always been there, they said. There is no change to the Agniveer recruitment scheme in this regard, officials said.
As regards religion column in the registration form, they said it is required for performing last rites as per religious rituals for recruits who die during training and soldiers who die in harness.
Officials said the requirement for the aspirants to submit caste certificates and, if required, religion certificates, was always there. Besides, recruitment in the Army in non-commissioned ranks is also on the basis of caste and religion for specific caste-based regiments.