The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Madhya pradesh): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while speaking at a rally in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, voiced strong opposition against the Agnipath scheme, asserting that it was unpopular even within the Indian Army. He claimed that the scheme, which involves short-term military enlistments without pension benefits, was solely developed by the Prime Minister’s Office under Narendra Modi.
“Earlier, the poor joined the Army and received pensions. Now, Agniveers are trained for just four months compared to five years for a Chinese soldier. Imagine the consequences. When an Agniveer dies, there’s no pension, no canteen benefits,” Gandhi highlighted. He pledged that the Congress would abolish the scheme and restore traditional recruitment methods to ensure economic and social security for soldiers.
In addition to military recruitment, Gandhi touched on broader socioeconomic issues, advocating for a caste census and an economic survey to reveal disparities in resource distribution. He criticized the current government for the alleged mismanagement of government vacancies, claiming, “The government has 30 lakh vacancies, yet the BJP fills these roles with contract work rather than permanent government jobs.”
The Wayanad MP’s speech reflects Congress’s strategy to address both defense and socio-economic policies in their campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Madhya Pradesh, where the rally took place, is a critical battleground with 29 parliamentary seats, where the BJP currently holds a dominant position. The state’s elections are scheduled in four phases, with the first polling on April 19.
Congress’s manifesto, which promises the abolition of the Agnipath scheme, aims to contrast sharply with the BJP’s defense and employment strategies, highlighting the party’s focus on reinstating longer-term and more secure military careers as well as filling government vacancies with permanent positions.