2022 protests against Agnipath scheme : ‘Joining Army is not a person’s dream, but a family’s… One case shouldn’t destroy a future’

Because of the criminal charges, it was unlikely he could secure a government job. With his family unable to afford further studies or coaching, Deepak gave up the idea. A few months ago, he took up a private job, where he has 12-hours workdays.

During the 2022 protests against the Agnipath scheme, 51 cases were filed in 15 districts across Uttar Pradesh, with youths accused of damaging trains and vehicles and setting them on fire at several places. Several private and government properties were damaged in stone-pelting.

The anger was about the Agnipath scheme under which youths were to be henceforth hired for a four‑year short‑term contract, with only around 25% from each batch to be retained at the end of four years. It was seen as a curtailment of the only avenue available to many for a secure and stable government job.

There is a ray of hope now for Deepak and others. As reported by The Indian Express, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a review, writing to district police heads and district magistrates where the cases are registered. “Once the report is finalised, it will be forwarded to the government without delay,” said a senior government official.

Many of the youths whom The Indian Express spoke to, who are in the same shoes as Deepak, say they were falsely implicated, and were either not present at the protests or had only gone there to see what was happening when police picked them up.

Deepak was booked along with 33 others, as well as 400–500 “unidentified youths”, in a case registered at Highway Police Station in Mathura on June 18, 2022. The FIR accuses them of blocking the highway, abusing police personnel, attacking them with stones, and damaging government and private property. Police say they were forced to use “mild force” to disperse the crowd.

While police have filed a chargesheet against the accused, the trial is yet to start.

Deepak, who spent nearly a month in jail before getting bail, says: “The government should give young people at least one chance to rebuild their lives. One case shouldn’t be allowed to destroy an entire future.”

Hari Om, 24, who belongs to Deepak’s village and was booked in the same case, says he gave up trying to join the Army after 2022 and now works in his family’s small farm, which he never wanted to.

“Joining the Army is not just a young man’s dream; it’s a family’s dream,” says Hari Om. “I wanted to make my parents proud.”

Hari Om, who spent 26 days in jail, says that almost every month, there are court hearings. Still, while his “motivation to serve the country” has almost evaporated, his hopes have not. “Many of us have missed our chance to appear for Army jawan recruitment (the upper limit is 21 for most). But there are options – in police, home guards, other security forces – if our cases are withdrawn in time.”

Data shows that of the 51 cases registered across the state, Jaunpur reported the highest, 11, followed by Varanasi, 9, and Chandauli, 8. Four cases were lodged in Aligarh; 3 each in Mathura, Ballia, and Ghazipur; 2 each in Gorakhpur and Basti; and 1 each in Agra, Gautam Budh Nagar, GRP Ballia, Ghaziabad, Fatehgarh, and Rae Bareli.

The charges mostly include rioting, assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, and robbery.

One of the first to take up the issue was BJP Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, who wrote to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in September, urging the government to withdraw the charges filed during the Agnipath protests. He said many “innocent and unsuspecting youth” were provoked by Opposition parties and certain “anti-social” elements.

Dhirendra Singh told The Indian Express: “I am pursuing this matter because it concerns the future of young students. I want to ensure that every necessary step is taken.”

Gautam Budh Nagar resident Kapil, 24, says he was among those who approached Dhirendra Singh in 2023 to request for help in getting the cases against them withdrawn.

Kapil was booked along with 75 people and around 150 “unidentified” others on June 17, 2022. They are accused of blocking the highway, pelting stones, and damaging roadside wooden stalls. Police say they first tried to reason with the protesters, before using “mild force”.

While a chargesheet has been filed, the trial is yet to start.

Kapil says he was inspired by his father Prahlad Singh, and how “hard he worked, all his life” to raise his three children. “I wanted to support him and bring some respect and stability to the family by getting a government job.”

From his childhood, his family had encouraged him to go into the armed forces, and he says he never imagined he would not don the Army uniform.

Kapil, who is now pursuing graduation, hopes to land a private sector job.

Badal, 23, who also is a Gautam Budh Nagar resident and booked in the same case as Kapil, was present in the group that met MLA Singh.

“This case hasn’t just destroyed our hopes, it has become an added burden on our families,” Badal says. “Lawyers charge money just to keep us out of jail. What kind of life is this, being trapped like this, at this age?”

Badal has now turned to the stock market, hoping that will be his escape.