Agnipath Scheme requires Agniveers to submit caste and religion certificates, however, BJP clarifies that caste does not play a role in the selection process.
Recent Controversy revolving around Agniveers
In a recent controversy regarding the Agnipath Scheme, Opposition parties have alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party has now made the submission of the aspirants’ caste and religion certificates mandatory for their recruitment. Furthermore, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused BJP of aiming to create an army of “Jaativeers” by manipulating the Agnipath Scheme.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) leader, Tejashwi Yadav has made claims that there is an RSS-influenced caste bias rooted in the Agnipath Scheme. He justifies these claims by saying that while the Centre brings to the forefront the castes of the Agniveers, it leaves the aspirants susceptible to categorization and discrimination at the hands of RSS, India’s largest casteist organization. “Jaat Na Pucho Sadhu Ki Lekin Jaat Pucho Fauji Ki (Don’t ask the caste of a saint but ask the caste of an armed personnel),” Tejashwi said in a tweet.
“The BJP government is staying away from the caste-based census. Even in Bihar, the state government is conducting a caste-based census on its own expenses after the Center refused to conduct it. Now, the same central government is asking the caste of Agniveers (Armed personnel) who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. They are asking the caste of Agniveers so that RSS could sack them from the job,” Tejashwi said.
BJP’s response to the allegations
Union Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, has vehemently denied these allegations by dating this aspect of the recruitment process back to the pre-independence era and has called it a norm, an old system being continued without any changes.
“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,” says Sambit Patra, the national spokesperson of BJP.
“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 AAP’s lies, has come before the nation. AAP does politics of lies. Recruitments are done as per Army Rules 1954 & Defence Service Regulation 1987. Some parties like AAP try to mislead youth without knowing the truth,” says Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
The Indian Army have also clarified that the provision of the caste and religion certificates is in accordance with the Army recruitment policy and no changes have been made for the Agniveers since the policy’s inception. “Religion is also required for performing last rites as per religious rituals for recruits who die during training and soldiers who die in harness,” said Army officials when speaking on the matter.
Speculation surrounding this provision
As per the provision in the recruitment process of Agniveers in the defence forces, there is no provision of reservation. Hence, asking for the caste certificate of Agniveers is surprising everyone. Earlier on Monday, Janata Dal (United) parliamentary board president Upendra Kushwaha raised the same question. “I am surprised with the caste certificate required during recruitment of Agniveer in the defence forces. There is no provision of reservation in Agnipath and Agniveer schemes then why are they demanding caste certificates? The Centre should give clarification on it,” said Kushwaha.
