Statement made on Twitter by Mallikarjun Kharge, President Indian National Congress
It is very unfortunate and deplorable that Prime Minister @narendramodi ji is doing petty politics even on occasions like paying tribute to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas.
No Prime Minister has ever done this before.
Modi ji is saying that his government implemented the Agnipath scheme at the behest of the Army, this is a blatant lie and an unforgivable insult to our valiant Armed Forces.
Modi ji, it is you who are spreading LIES!
Former Army Chief (Retd.) General MM Naravane has said on record that 75% of recruits were to be taken for permanency in the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ and 25% of people were to be let go after 4 years. But the Modi Govt did the opposite, and forcibly implemented this scheme for all three Armed Forces.
According to news reports, Former Army Chief (Retd) General MM Naravane in his book which the Modi Govt, has stalled from being published, has also said, that the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ was shocking for the Army, and for the Navy and Air Force, it came like a “bolt out of the blue”!
Are we creating professional soldiers, only by 6 months of training? Soldiers join the Army out of patriotism, not to earn a living.
Many retired officers have strongly criticised Agnipath and said that it is endangering National Security and the aspirations of the rural youth, demanding that this scheme should be completely scrapped. All this is on record.
Agniveers do not get any pension, no gratuity, no family pension, no liberalized family pension and no education allowance for their children.
Modi ji, 15 Agniveers have been martyred so far. At least respect their martyrdom.
There is a lot of anger and strong opposition among the youth of the country regarding Agniveer!
Congress party’s demand is consistent-the Agnipath Scheme should be scrapped!
~ Mallikarjun Kharge, President Indian National Congress