Ex-Army Chief On Agnipath: “People are burning buses that are not fit for the Armed Forces”

General VP Malik, the Army leader who led India to victory in the Kargil War, today expressed support for the Agnipath scheme and stated that the Army is not interested in recruiting hooligans who are responsible for the violence that has occurred during the anti-short-term recruitment plan protests.

Throughout the day, violence was reported from five states: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and the national capital Delhi, as army hopefuls’ protests intensified. Trains were set ablaze, rail and road traffic was stopped, bus windows were damaged, and passers-by, including a ruling BJP MLA, were hit with stones by irate youth asking that the new short-term recruiting scheme be scrapped.

“We must recognise that the military is a volunteer force. It is not a welfare organisation, and it must have the greatest individuals available to fight for and defend the country “In an exclusive interview with NDTV today, General Malik stated. “Those who engage in goondaism, burning trains and buses, those are not the individuals we want in the armed forces,” he continued.

He did confess, though, that a handful of candidates were unable to “finish the test when recruitment was paused.” “Some of those individuals will now be of legal drinking age. They are ineligible for the Agnipath programme. So I understand their concern and frustration “he stated.

When asked if the fact that employees trained to manage very high-tech equipment will be out in four years will be a problem, General Malik stated the focus is on recruiting people who are “better educated and tech savvy.”

“People from ITI and other technological institutions are being recruited. They’re getting additional points, and that’s the kind of person we want in the military “He went on to say that such people could be given more time.  “Allow the plan to take shape. Corrections can be made once we know where the flaws are located “he went on to say.

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