Amid students' protests over the Agnipath scheme for recruitment into the armed forces, Union ministers and chief ministers of the BJP-led states defended the step on Thursday, saying it will open new avenues for youngsters, and urged them to keep away from those inciting them.

Union minister Ashwini Choubey, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Bihar where the protests started on Wednesday, claimed that some people are using students for their own political gains, an apparent reference to the opposition parties that have criticised the scheme for short-term contractual employment in the armed forces as soldiers.

In a statement, Choubey said Prime Minister Narendra Modi always thinks and works for the welfare of the country.

"We assure you that this programme is a constructive step to bring in long-term positive results. Lakhs of youngsters will not only benefit from this, but the nationalistic sentiments within them will also be strengthened," he said.

"Those selected under the scheme will get priority in central and state government jobs," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the scheme is a grand campaign for developing skilled manpower in the country.

Describing the scheme as "historic", Tomar said, "It will open new avenues for youngsters and pave the way for their better future."

Similarly, Yogi Adityanath and Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, also assured the students that they will give "preference" to "Agniveers" for selection in their respective state police forces and other jobs.

"Agnipath Yojana will give a new dimension to youngsters' lives. It will lay a golden base for their future," Adityanath said in a tweet, while urging young people not to be deceived.

Underlining that the Uttarakhand government is committed to providing employment opportunities to youngsters, Dhami urged them to stay away from any kind of misleading news.

Youth torch vehicles in Palwal as protests erupt in six Haryana districts

Young men torched government vehicles in Palwal as protests erupted in half a dozen districts of Haryana over the Agnipath scheme for recruitment to defence services.

The authorities imposed prohibitory orders and suspended mobile internet services in Palwal to stop the spread rumours through social media platforms.

Protests also took place in Gurugram, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Hisar and Rohtak.

Palwal DSP (Headquarters) Anil Kumar said over 20 youths have been rounded up.

Five government vehicles were set on fire by the protesters while stones were thrown at the residence of the Palwal deputy commissioner, he said. The deputy commissioner wasn't there at the time of the incident and no one was injured, he said.

A police vehicle was damaged in stone pelting and Agra Chowk on National Highway-19 was blocked. Police used tear gas and resorted to mild cane charge to disperse the protesters.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Palwal.

A statement said the government ordered the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Palwal district for next 24 hours starting 4 pm on Thursday. The DSP said now the situation is under control.

Meanwhile, hundreds of young people took to streets in Gurugram and Rewari with protesters blocking highways. Protests were also held in Charkhi Dadri, Hisar and Rohtak districts.

In Gurugram's Bilaspur and Sidhrawali, protesters laid a virtual seize to bus stands and roads, and held a protest at Bilaspur Chowk, crippling traffic on the Gurugram-Jaipur highway.

Heavy police force was rushed to these spots.

"The traffic has been diverted at Bilaspur Chowk (NH-48). All commuters using this route are requested to take alternative routes," the Gurugram traffic police said in an advisory.

"Our traffic officials are on the job and ensuring that there is no major congestion. Diversions have been made as and where required," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ravinder Singh Tomar said.

Meanwhile, the protest at Hodal came to end after two hours of blockade.

Ex-serviceman and senior Congress leader Ajay Yadav in a statement said the Centre's scheme aims to demean the spirit of forces and cut down on benefits being given to Army jawans.

"The Army is not a profession but passion and life. Our districts like Rewari send their sons to serve the nation every year and this demeans their passion. Over four lakh posts are vacant in the Army and this cheap attempt to compensate them with small contract employment is unacceptable," Yadav said.

The Centre on Tuesday unveiled the ambitious scheme for recruitment of the youth aged between 17 and a half and 21 in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis.

The youth recruited under the scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'. After the completion of the four-year tenure, 25 per cent of the recruits from each specific batch will be offered regular service.

Haryana districts like Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Gurugram and Palwal send sizeable number of youth to the defence forces.