Amid India’s legislative elections, the Congress party is fiercely criticizing the central government over the Agniveer plan. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly articulated his intention to abolish this plan in his speeches. The BJP has responded by directly challenging Rahul Gandhi's stance.
The BJP proposes that Rahul Gandhi should first serve in the military to understand it better before discussing the Agniveer scheme. They also criticized the Congress for not supplying the military with essential gear like bulletproof jackets and ammunition.
Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, emphasized that under the Agniveer scheme, individuals would initially serve in the military and then transition to police roles. He highlighted the plan’s popularity among youth, with large numbers showing up for interviews. Criticizing Rahul Gandhi, Sarma said, “Rahul can neither be a soldier nor an Agniveer. He cannot self-sustain financially and is a burden on his mother. He's engaging in anti-national activities. I warn him not to malign the army.”
What Does Rahul Gandhi Say About Agniveer?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been consistent in his stance that if the India Block gains power post the Lok Sabha elections, they will abolish the Agniveer scheme. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning India’s soldiers into laborers.
The Agnipath Recruitment Scheme of 2022
The central government launched the 'Agnipath Recruitment Scheme' in 2022, aiming to temporarily enroll youths aged 17 and a half to 21 into the armed forces for four years, with 25% retaining service for 15 years. The strategy targeted reducing age limits in the military branches.
General V.K. Singh advised, “Rahul Gandhi should first serve in the army before criticizing it. Understand the forces before speaking.” His comments came as a direct rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi's stance, emphasizing the non-constructive nature of his critiques.
Encapsulating the debate, Union Minister Anurag Thakur urged Congress to cease spreading misinformation in the country. Thakur listed various scandals like Bofors, Jeep, and AgustaWestland, attributing them to Congress. He underscored Modi’s achievements in upgrading military provisions to include bulletproof jackets and weapons while affirming the Agniveer scheme's guarantee of 100% job security, where 75% of Agniveers would serve in the military for four years before being sought after by the police and private sectors.
