The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Congress party has dismissed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent statements about the government’s willingness to revise the Agnipath military recruitment scheme if necessary, labeling these remarks as mere “election slogans.” The opposition bloc, INDIA, has vowed to overhaul the program upon assuming power in early June.
In his conversation at the Times Now Summit, Minister Singh advocated for the Agnipath scheme, highlighting its potential to infuse the armed forces with a younger, more technologically adept, and risk-oriented demographic. He mentioned, “If we identify any shortcomings, we are prepared to address them,” signaling an openness to feedback and improvements.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responded critically on X, pointing out that the Defence Minister’s conditional openness to reform the Agnipath scheme, also known as the Agniveer scheme, underscores its failure under the current government. Kharge accused the Modi administration of jeopardizing the futures of countless young patriots with the scheme.
He further insisted that the government owes an apology to the nation’s youth and reiterated the Congress’s pledge to discontinue the Agnipath scheme, denouncing it as detrimental to national security and unappealing for youth seeking more than a four-year military engagement.
Highlighting the Congress’s “Jai Jawan” campaign, Kharge emphasized the disruption caused by the abrupt introduction of the Agnipath scheme to around 1.5 lakh young individuals who had successfully passed the selection process between 2019 and 2022, only to face uncertainty with the new recruitment model.
Kharge criticized the scheme’s impact on the aspirants’ morale and financial stability, alleging a stark departure from the initial plan as stated by former Army Chief General MM Naravane. According to Naravane, the scheme envisaged retaining 25% of recruits for longer terms, a commitment the government failed to honor, per Kharge’s claim.
He concluded with a strong message to the youth, encouraging them to reject the BJP’s “election slogans” and hold the party accountable for compromising their futures. Echoing this sentiment, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh affirmed the party’s commitment to revamp the Agnipath scheme upon gaining power, reflecting a significant policy divide ahead of the upcoming elections. Launched in June 2022, the Agnipath scheme aims to rejuvenate the armed forces with short-term recruitments, proposing a new age and tenure structure for enlistment.