After AAP MP Sanjay Singh cried foul over the requirement of caste and religion certificates to apply for the Agnipath scheme, the Indian Army issued a clarification.

Speaking to ANI, Army officials stressed that the aspirants always had to submit caste certificates and religion certificates if required. Thus, they asserted that there is no change in the recruitment process for the aforesaid scheme.

Elaborating further, they explained that religion is also required for performing last rites as per religious rituals for recruits who die during training and soldiers who are martyred.

Alleging that people will be discriminated against on caste lines, AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged, "The bad face of the Modi government has come in front of the country. Does Modi Ji not consider Dalits/backward/tribals eligible for army recruitment' For the first time in the history of India, caste is being asked in "Army Recruitment". Modi Ji, do you want to make 'Agniveer' or 'Jaativeer'."

Moreover, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya asserted that this system has existed since the colonial era and was formalized in 1949 through a special Army order.

Thus, the Centre is just following the procedure being followed for more than 7 decades. In 2013, the Indian Army told the Supreme Court that information about caste and religion is just an administrative and operational requirement and plays no role in the selection process. the Army also reiterated that it does not recruit on the basis of caste, region and religion.

Image courtesy: Twitter/@adgpi