In protest, Cong stages walkout from assembly

Dehradun: Congress MLAs on Friday staged a walkout from the Uttarakhand assembly to protest against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence services demanding its “immediate rollback”. They also slammed the state government over police lathi-charge on protestors in Haldwani and have demanded a SIT probe in the matter.
Six-time MLA Pritam Singh said, “The BJP government is playing with the future of lakhs of youths.The protests across the country are an indication that the decision has not gone well with the people, who are expected to benefit from the scheme.” Singh claimed that the Congress will continue to raise the issue until it is rolled back by the Centre.
“Be it farm law, Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board Act or now the Agnipath scheme, both the union government as well as the state government are not even interested in talking to the people for whom they frame these laws and policies,” he said.
“We strongly condemn the cane charge on the youth in Haldwani. They are our future and there was no reason why they were attacked by the police team. We demand a high level probe into the matter and action against those found guilty.”
Meanwhile, outside the assembly too, Congress highlighted the scheme and termed it “against the people of Uttarakhand.” Claiming that the new recruitment scheme would prove to be fatal for the future of the youth, Congress state chief Karan Mahara said, “Uttarakhand contributes a huge number to the defence forces and paramilitary forces. Around 60% of the population is dependent on the pension. There are thousands and lakhs of youth, who aspire to join defence forces, but their dreams have been shattered.”