Anti-Agnipath protesters caned in Dharwad

Dharwad (PTI): Police resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse anti-Agnipath protesters as they attempted to take out a protest march against the proposed defence recruitment scheme here, officials said on Saturday. According to police, the aspirants had gathered at Kala Bhavan here from various parts of the district, and wanted to stage a protest.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district received a memorandum from the protesters. A section of protesters pelted stones on a bus nearby leaving it partially damaged and they were not allowed to head towards the Deputy Commissioner's office, that prompted police to resort to lathi-charge to disperse protesters. Some of the protesters have been taken into custody, while others have been dispersed, and the situation is currently under control, the police said.

There are also reports of protests in Gokak and other parts of neighbouring Belagavi district. Congress MLA from Khanapur constituency Anjali Nimbalkar too participated in one such protest. Protests against the Agnipath scheme raged through several states across the country for the fourth day on Saturday.

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Nadda appeal Chitradurga:

BJP national president J P Nadda urged the youth to believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end the agitation against Agnipath scheme and choose the path of discussion. Alleging that certain forces don't want reforms or change in the country, he claimed that the youth are being misled about the scheme.

"I want to appeal to our young friends that Agnipath is a revolutionary scheme, it is a big revolutionary step to place the Indian military at a strong position globally, we have to understand it. So I appeal to youth, I'm aware that attempts are on to trick and mislead them," Nadda said. Addressing a meeting of Gram panchayat presidents and vice-presidents, he said there are certain forces in this country who don't want reforms or change, and they don't want the power of youth to be used in a right way in the service of the nation.

"But, I want to tell our young friends that they should believe in Prime Minister Modi, the way in which he has served the country... In the days to come the Agniveers who emerge from Agnipath will always be known for protecting the country by establishing themselves before the world," he added. These statements from the ruling BJP's national president came even as protests against the Agnipath scheme raged through several States across the country for the fourth day today.

Appealing to youth to understand the scheme in depth, Nadda said, "Try to know that at the age of 17, (the scheme gives) youth an opportunity to get trained not only for military but also for a change in their entire life." The training, along with entry into military, would also help one join State services at a later stage, he said. Karnataka has already said it would give preference to Agniveers in recruitment to police services, he said.