The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Congress party intensified its critique of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme on Monday, 26 February, arguing that it has unjustly affected countless young individuals aspiring for regular roles in the armed forces. Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge reached out to President Droupadi Murmu, delineating the detrimental impact of the Agnipath scheme on youth employment prospects and seeking her intervention for justice.
Kharge’s communication with the President, who holds the highest authority over the Indian armed forces, underscored the precarious future faced by nearly two lakh young men and women due to the cessation of the traditional recruitment process in the military.
At a press briefing at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot expressed the party’s firm stance against the Agnipath scheme. He pointed out the absence of any substantial demand for such a drastic shift in recruitment strategy. Pilot emphasized that the long-term consequences of Agnipath would benefit neither the armed forces nor the youth, serving mainly as a cost-saving measure for the government.
The Congress party’s position is clear: reverting to the previous recruitment system is essential. Pilot argued that while modernization of the armed forces is achievable within the existing framework, completely abolishing the established recruitment methodology is unwarranted. He expressed concern over the potential reduction in employment opportunities and the hasty, ill-considered manner in which the Agnipath scheme was implemented.
According to Pilot, the Congress party views the Agnipath program as a step backward for the nation’s military framework. He asserted that, once in power, the party would restore the former recruitment system, responding to the demands of the populace and ensuring the well-being and proper functioning of the armed forces.
