During a heated session in the Lok Sabha, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BJP MP Anurag Thakur clashed over the treatment of Agniveers in the Armed Forces. Yadav claimed that the Agnipath scheme has been a "disaster" for the youth and state governments are being pressured to enroll them through quotas. Thakur countered by citing the history and legacy of his home state Himachal Pradesh in serving the Armed Forces.
In a heated exchange in the Parliament, Union Minister Rajnath Singh accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misleading the public with false information about the Agnipath scheme. Gandhi had alleged that the scheme deprives soldiers and their families of financial security and respect. Singh countered by saying that the scheme provides financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore to families of Agniveers who die in the line of duty and clarified that Gandhi's claims were baseless.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized PM Modi for politicizing a sensitive issue like national security on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Kharge accused the PM of spreading lies and going against the wishes of the Army by forcibly implementing the 'Agnipath' scheme for all three Armed Forces. He also pointed out that former Army Chief General MM Naravane had said that only 25% of recruits were to be let go after 4 years under the scheme, but the Modi government did the opposite.
The Congress party has hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing them of playing politics over the Agnipath Scheme, which aims to provide employment to retired soldiers. Congress leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Karti Chidambaram have criticized the scheme and called for its scrapping, stating that it does not fulfill the needs of the Army. Meanwhile, PM Modi defended the scheme during his visit to the Kargil War Memorial, stating that the opposition is playing politics on a sensitive issue related to the country's defence and security.
During his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the Agnipath scheme as a necessary reform for keeping the armed forces young and fit for war. He refuted accusations that the scheme was launched to save pension money and criticized the opposition for politicizing a sensitive issue related to national security. Modi stated that the issue of making the armed forces younger has been discussed in Parliament and committees for years but the will to resolve it was not shown earlier.
The Indian Army has clarified that the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who lost his life in the line of duty, has indeed been compensated. This comes after Rahul Gandhi's claim that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied about the family receiving Rs. 1 crore, which was refuted by the Army and Rajnath Singh's office. The clarification also sheds light on the Agnipath scheme, which aims to bring down the age profile of the armed forces.
In his first speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of treating soldiers as 'use and throw' labourers under the Agnipath scheme. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered his claims by highlighting the provisions for martyr status and compensation under the scheme. The Defence Minister also called out Gandhi for spreading false information and cautioned him against misleading the House. Gandhi's accusation against the BJP-led NDA government came under scrutiny as the facts emerged, showing that Agniveers receive adequate support and recognition from the government.
The Congress party has chosen Rahul Gandhi, the most popular face in the party, to take up the mantle of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This decision, announced by the Congress Working Committee, marks a shift in the political landscape as the opposition parties have gained strength and are determined to make their voices heard. Gandhi's new role will allow him to lead the charge against the government on important issues such as the alleged paper leaks and the Agnipath scheme.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reached out to President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the alleged discrimination faced by the families of slain Agniveers, who are given lesser benefits compared to regular soldiers. He urged the President to provide justice to these heroes, who lay down their lives in service to the nation. In a two-page letter, Gandhi highlighted the "fundamental flaw" in the Agnipath scheme and its impact on national security.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu asking for her urgent attention to the discrimination in the benefits provided to the families of martyred Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. Highlighting her role as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Gandhi appealed for an exception to be made to address this issue affecting national security. He also mentioned the opposition of his coalition to the scheme and requested the President's intervention in this matter.