'Didn't anticipate protests like this': Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Agnipath row

Amid widespread violent protests by Army aspirants across the country, the Navy Chief on Friday called it "the single biggest human resources management transformation in the Indian military".

In a video posted by news agency ANI, Admiral Kumar said he worked on the Agnipath scheme for almost a year and a half.

"I didn't anticipate any protests like this. We worked on the Agnipath scheme for almost a year and a half...It's the single biggest Human Resources Management transformation in the Indian military. Protests are happening due to misinformation and misunderstanding of the scheme," the Navy Chief told ANI.

"I was part of the planning team of this scheme and worked on it for a year and a half. It's a transformational scheme. It will transform the armed forces in many ways," he told ANI.

The Centre unveiled Agnipath scheme on Tuesday what it as a "transformative" one for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis.

The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

"Agnipath allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years," read the statement issued by the defence ministry.

The age limit for Agnipath recruitment has now been raised to 23 from 21 as a "one-time waiver" following the protests.

The government has also put out a 10-point defence of the scheme and assured recruits they will not find themselves in the lurch after completing their four years in the military.

On completion of the engagement period of four years, Agniveers will be paid one time ‘SevaNidhi’ package which shall comprise their contribution including accrued interest thereon and matching contribution from the Government equal to the accumulated amount of their contribution including interest.

However, several states like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed violent agitation over the new scheme.

At least one person has died and several others were injured as an angry mob set trains on fire and clashed with police in several states amidst protest over the Centre's Agnipath scheme.