DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES SINCE 1932 KEY BJP ALLY JD(U) LEADS CALLS FOR REVIEW OF SCHEME Govt raises Agnipath upper age to 23 for this year after protests Trains, BJP offices attacked in Bihar; Govt vehicles set on fire in Haryana Behind protest: Temporary stint, no pension or health benefit EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE KRISHN KAUSHIK WITH KEY NDA ally JD(U) leading calls for an immediate reviewof Agnipath,thenewshortterm recruitment policy for the Armed Forces, after violent protests seeking a rollback erupted in several states on Thursday,theCentreannounced a two-year relaxation in the upper age limit for the scheme this year since there was no recruitment in the services “during the last two years”. After a day that saw large groups of youths blocking roads, pelting stones, torching train coaches,andtargetingBJPoffices and leaders, the Defence Ministry saidthatitwouldallow HOURSAFTERprotestseruptedin several parts of the country against the short-term Agnipath scheme for the armed forces, officialssoughttoallayconcernsand circulated a Myth vs Fact documenttounderline that the new scheme will not only bring in new capabilitiesbut will also open up avenues in the private sector, andhelpthe youngmenbecome entrepreneurswiththeaidofafinancial package. For those protesting on the NEW DELHI, JUNE 16 NEW DELHI, JUNE 16 A train was set on fire at Chhapra in Bihar’s Saran district on Thursday amid protests. PTI those who were 21 years old in 2020, when recruitments were stalled, to be eligible — only for this year. Under the original scheme announced on Tuesday, only aspirants between 17-and-a-half years and 21 years of age are eligible for recruitment. But on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said that “the upper age limit for the recruitment process for Agnipath scheme for 2022 is increased to 23 years”. The Ministry said that since CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MORE REPORTS PAGE 6 No demolition without due process... the rule of law has to prevail: SC seeks UP response ANANTHAKRISHNAN G NEW DELHI, JUNE 16 UNDERLININGTHAT the“ruleof law has to prevail” and “no demolition can take place without following the due process of law”, the Supreme Court INSIDE RISE IN BOOSTER DOSE NUMBERS ATF PRICE UP, HIKE IN AIRFARES LIKELY PAGES 7, 13 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Batting for Bengal: Ranji team star by day, minister and TMC MLA at night DEVENDRA PANDEY MUMBAI, JUNE 16 FROM RESCUING the Bengal Ranji team by hitting a century during the day, to wading through files of official documents,asWestBengal’sMinister for Youth Affairs and Sports and At the helm of oil and urban affairs, Puri is Adda guest today Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, JUNE 16 AS UNION Minister of Housing andUrbanAffairsandPetroleum and Natural Gas with Cabinet rank, diplomat-turned-politician Hardeep Singh Puri is at the helm of departments and ministries that play a critical role in influencing India’s growth story. As a diplomat and a former Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Puri — the guest at Express Adda on Friday — was one of the four Cabinet ministers tasked with coordinating the government’s massive efforts towards evacuating Indian students stranded in Ukraine after Russia attacked the former on February 24. In his role as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Puri is entrusted with the task of increasing domestic production of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 WORLD RE-ENGAGE WITH INDIA: BILAWAL PAGE 12 Trinamool Congress MLA from Shibpur, in the evening — it’s all inaday’sworkforManojTiwary. Multi-tasking to strike a balance between his two roles, as a sittingministerandcricketer,isa big ask. When his team-mates hit the ice baths and put their feet up to re-energise in the evenings, Tiwary (36) says he dives right into official work. “Thereisalotof constituency work—someonemayneedaletter for an Aadhaar card, some smallissueshereandthere.Atthe same time, we need to ensure that our government schemes reach the people,” says Tiwary, adding,“Ihavegotusedtoitnow”. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 `7.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, `12 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM Manoj Tiwarygoesthrough filesinhishotelroom. Express Thursdaysoughttheresponseof the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea by Jamiat-Ulama-iHind which alleged illegal demolition of private properties in the state following violent protests over remarks against the Prophet. Fixing June 21 as the date of the next hearing, and asking the UP government to file its objectionsinthemeantime,thebench of Justices A S Bopanna and VikramNathdidnotpassanyinterimorderstayingdemolitions, but said “now that notice is beingissuedandreplyisbeingfiled, make sure nothing untoward happens in the meanwhile.” “Whentheissueisbeforethe court, there should be some restraint,” Justice Bopanna said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 RELATED REPORT PAGE 7