Friday, 17 May, 2024
C Voter -IndiaTracker conducted a nationwide survey to find out what ordinary Indians think about the developments related to the Agneepath scheme and the protests
How genuinely angry are the youth of India over the new Agneepath scheme for the armed forces that they had to resort to arson and violence in many parts of India, particularly in Bihar. As this report is being filed on June 20, the alarming violence seems to have subsided even as opposition political parties seem to be carrying forward the baton of protests in the capital city Delhi amongst other places. Both the BJP and the opposition parties are flinging accusations at each other about malafide intentions.
While opposition parties accuse the Narendra Modi government of endangering the financial security and future of the youth by bringing in schemes like the Agneepath, the BJP, in turn, is accusing the opposition of instigating the youth to indulge in violence while protesting against the scheme. Just in case you still don’t know the details, under the new Agneepath scheme, the old system of hiring soldiers for the armed forces whereby they serve for 15 to 20 years and then get a lifetime pension will be replaced by a new system. In the new system, about 50,000 soldiers will be hired every year and 75% of them will have to leave the service after four years with a one time severance package of about Rs 12 lakh.
C Voter -IndiaTracker conducted a nationwide survey to find out what ordinary Indians think about the developments related to the Agneepath scheme and the protests. Overall, 57% of the respondents in the survey stated they were convinced the opposition parties were instigating the youth against the Agneepath scheme. The political polarisation over the issue is evident. While 73% of NDA supporters felt the opposition parties were instigating the youth, about 45% of opposition voters shared the same sentiment. It is important to note here that a significant 45% of opposition voters share the sentiments of NDA supporters. That cannot be good news for the Congress and other parties opposed to the BJP. There wasn’t much difference between age groups.
About 56% of those between age 18 and 24-who will be directly affected by the new scheme were of the opinion that opposition parties were instigating the youth. Amongst those above 55 years of age, a little more than 60% shared the same sentiment.
A majority of Indians were also not in favour of the Bharat Bandh that was organised mainly by the Congress to amplify its protest against the Agneepath scheme.
According to results of the C Voter-IndiaTracker survey, 53% of the respondents said they were opposed to the Bharat Bandh call given by the Congress.
