Rahul Gandhi Claims the Army Does Not Want Agniveer Scheme and Promises to Scrap It

During a rally in Haryana on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, a minister from the Congress party, criticized the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that the government has pushed India’s soldiers into a role similar to laborers. Additionally, he promised to scrap the Agniveer scheme once his party assumes power on June 4th.

Gandhi further elaborated that according to Prime Minister Modi’s proposal, there would exist two distinct classifications of soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice for their country: Firstly, the conventional soldiers or officers whose families would be entitled to pensions, recognition, and various other benefits. Secondly, individuals akin to Agniveer, hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, would not be accorded the status of a ‘shaheed’ (martyr), nor would their families receive any pensions or additional support.

Rahul Gandhi emphasized, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s Agniveer scheme, originating from the Prime Minister’s Office, has effectively downgraded the esteemed position of India’s Jawans to mere laborers. He assured the people that upon assuming power, the Congress party would take decisive action to abolish this scheme.

The Congress MP declared that there would be only one category for soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice: everyone guarding India’s borders would be honored as ‘shaheed’. He emphasized that the government of India will be dedicated to serving all, and as such, the Agniveer scheme will be dismantled and discarded.

In addition, In 2022, the central government launched the Agnipath recruitment scheme, which focused on the swift enlisting of personnel into the armed forces. The primary objective was to reduce the age profile across all three services, ensuring a more balanced and dynamic composition within the military.

Under this scheme, young people between the ages of 17 and a half to 21 years are eligible for recruitment, with a commitment period of four years initially. Additionally, there’s a provision to retain 25 percent of them for an extended period of 15 years, ensuring continuity and stability within the armed forces.

As Gandhi kept speaking out against the Modi government, he brought up the tough times farmers in Haryana are going through. He argued that the government’s focus on billionaires overlooks the needs of the hardworking farming community, making their challenges even harder to bear.

Gandhi expressed concern about the farmers of Haryana, highlighting their crucial contribution to feeding the nation through their tireless efforts in the fields. He expressed dismay at the Modi government’s decision to strip away their rights by abolishing the Land Tribunal Bill, which he believed was done to benefit the wealthy. Furthermore, he pointed out the controversial farm laws imposed by the government, which were eventually rolled back following widespread public pressure.

The Wayanad MP emphasized the difference in approach between the United Progressive Alliance and the current government led by Prime Minister Modi. While the former took a compassionate step by waiving loans for struggling farmers, the latter has opted to forgive the debts of 22 affluent individuals instead. This blatant favoritism not only disregards the challenges faced by our farmers but also undermines fundamental principles of fairness and equality. Rahul Gandhi emphasized that such actions are a direct affront to the hardworking individuals who sustain our nation through agriculture. He criticized the opposition’s policies, arguing that they prioritize the privileged over the backbone of our agricultural sector, leaving farmers to fend for themselves.

The Lok Sabha elections for Haryana’s 10 parliamentary constituencies are set to take place in one go on May 25th, with the final phase scheduled for June 1st. Vote counting will then occur on June 4th.