Modi Faces Backlash With Short-Term Indian Army Enlistment
- Protests erupt along with reports of train coaches set on fire
- Unemployment rate in India fell but remains elevated
Indian Army soldiers during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
Photographer: T. Narayan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Protests continued across India for the second straight day over a shift in the army’s recruitment policy to short-term jobs, putting pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has pledged to boost employment in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Television footage showed crowds of protesters, who appear to be potential recruits, setting fire to train coaches and disrupting rail and road traffic. The protests come after the defense ministry unveiled a new policy that will see soldiers hired under a four-year contract and no pension entitlements.