Sonia Gandhi Calls Agnipath Directionless, PM Must Become 'Mafiveer,' Says Rahul

Gandhi said for eight consecutive years, the BJP government has "insulted" the values of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

(Photo: PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to withdraw the farm laws, he will have to accept the demand of the youth and roll back the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.

The former Congress chief also said that for eight consecutive years, the Bharatiya Janata Party government has “insulted” the values of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.’

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who is currently hospitalised with COVID-19-related issues, made an appeal to the youth who are currently protesting against the Agnipath scheme.

"You aspire to do an important job for the country by joining the Indian defence services. I can understand the pain of not getting hired despite there being several vacancies for the last three years. I am sad that the government has announced the new directionless army recruitment scheme, ignoring your voice. INC stand firmly with you and we promise to protect your interests. I also urge you to agitate for your demands in a peaceful, non-violent way."

Sonia Gandhi wrote in a letter

A man was shot dead in police firing in Telangana’s Secunderabad, trains went up in flames, and public and private vehicles were attacked, as railway stations and highways turned into battlegrounds in many states on Friday amid burgeoning protests against the Agnipath scheme.

In a tweet, Gandhi said, “I had said earlier also that the prime minister will have to withdraw the black farm laws. In the same manner, he will have to accept the demand of the youth of the country by becoming ‘mafiveer’ and take back the ‘Agnipath’ scheme,” he said.

What Is the Scheme?  

Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government said youths between the ages of 17.5 and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure while 25 percent of the recruits will be retained for regular service.

The upper age limit was raised to 23 years on Thursday as the protests against the new model for enrolment of soldiers into the Army, Navy, and Air Force spread.

The new scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in the three services was projected by the government as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to enhance the youthful profile of the three services.