"Agnipath Is For Skill, Not Job": Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Whose House Was Attacked

Defending the recruitment scheme, Renu Devi said people start looking for jobs at 23-24, "whereas we are even taking in those aged 17-and-a-half years"

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi said on Friday that the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme, which has elicited protests several states, is not a job. "I don't see Agnipath scheme as something that provides jobs; rather it is skill development with the armed forces," the BJP leader told NDTV, hours after her house at Bettiah in West Champaran district was attacked by protesting young men. She was in Patna at the time; no one was injured in the attack. #WATCH | Bihar: The residence of Deputy CM Renu Devi, in Bettiah, attacked by agitators during their protest against #AgnipathSchemeHer son tells ANI, "Our residence in Bettiah was attacked. We suffered a lot of damage. She (Renu Devi) is in Patna." pic.twitter.com/Ow5vhQI5NQ #Agnipath "Golden Opportunity" For Youth To Join Military: Rajnath Singh https://t.co/2Jpzj7XAyEpic.twitter.com/KT7Z2gh4Mb

"These kids don't understand," she said, "They must know that people start looking for jobs at 23-24 years of age, whereas we are taking in those aged 17-and-a-half years too." 

In Bettiah, besides Renu Devi's property, the house of state BJP chief and local MP Sanjay Jaiswal was attacked too, though he was not there and no one was injured. BJP MLA Vijay Bihari also faced an attack in the town; his vehicle was badly damaged. "The aspirants should know that violence during protests is unacceptable. It is not just about damage to private property; they are even damaging public property," Renu Devi said.