Agnipath drive: Punjab CM assures full support after army complaint

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday assured complete backing to the Army’s Agnipath recruitment drives after the force’s zonal office said it will recommend its headquarters to pause the process, citing lack of support from local authorities.

Mann tweeted that all deputy commissioners have been directed to provide complete support to the Army authorities for recruitment drives.

He added that any laxity will be viewed seriously and that every effort will be made to ensure that the maximum number of candidates are selected from the state.

The Army’s zonal officer earlier in the letter had said the support from the local administration for recruitment rallies under the Agnipath scheme is "vacillating".

The letter further mentions, "We are now thus compelled to bring to your kind notice that unless clear-cut commitments are not received in writing on issues raised, we would be taking up the case with Army Headquarters to hold in abeyance all future recruitment rallies and procedures in the state of Punjab CM , alternately conduct rallies in neighboring states."

The officer asserted that the assistance from the local civil administration is an inescapable requirement to conduct an incident free and successful recruitment rally.

For smooth conduct of Agnipath recruitment drive army had asked for critical support which include police assistance for law and order, barricading to enable smooth entry of candidates, emergency medical support, food for 3000 to 4000 participants per day for 14 days, water, mobile toilets and rain shelters at the recruitment venue.

As per official details, 27,000 candidates are expected to participate in the rallies from six districts in Patiala.

In Ludhiana, one recruitment drive was held in August and currently an ongoing camp in Gurdaspur while the third one was to be held in Patiala from September 17 to 30.

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