DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has questioned the norms being followed for the recruitment of “agniwars” in the armed forces in the hill state.
“The height requirement for Pahari people in army recruitment rallies was reduced to 163 cms at the time of (former Chief of Defense Staff) General Bipin Rawat. But the colonel who looked after the recruitment process for Agniveers at Kotdwar was still 170- – centimeter norms,” Maharaj said in a video statement.
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that he has spoken to Union Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt and asked him to ensure that firefighters are recruited strictly as per norms. “Since people in hills are usually not very tall, army candidates in Uttarakhand were given relaxation in the height requirement in the time of Late General Bipin Rawat.
However, it is brought to my notice that the criteria laid down by Gen. Kotdwar Rawat is not being followed in the ongoing recruitment rally of Agniveers. He said that he has urged Bhatt to look into the matter and ensure that the norms are followed. The recruitment of Agniveers started in Kotdwar from August 19 and it Will run till 31st August.
