'PM Modi Seeks 3rd Term At 73 But Wants Agniveers To Retire At 21': AAP MP Sanjay Singh

AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticised PM Modi for wanting a third term at the age of 73 but retiring the 'Agniveers' at the age of 21.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticised PM Modi for wanting a third term at the age of 73 but retiring the 'Agniveers' at the age of 21.

Source : PTI

Ever since the Centre rolled out its 'Agniveer' Scheme in June 2015 it has been criticised immensely by the opposition. As the nation is currently voting across seven phases in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, there have been repetitive mentions of the scheme with parties including Congress and Samajwadi Party making promises to scrap off the scheme once elected to power.

Referring to the scheme, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who has recently been granted bail in the money laundering case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate, launched scathing attacks at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying: "What will our sons do? Become jawans at the age of 17 and retire at the age of 21? PM Modi wants a third term at the age of 73 years and a 'Jawan' will be retired at the age of 21 years?"

The AAP MP also took a swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his son heading the post of BCCI's chairman and questioned him whether he even knew how to hold a bat.

Sanjay Singh, who has been actively advocating the release of the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in connection with the Delhi Excise policy case, trained guns at PM Modi and Amit Shah, accusing them of being "ghor parivaarwaadi".

"PM Modi, Amit Shah & BJP have no work except to help their family and friends to grow. Who has been given the assets of the nation? To his friends...Whom has he given the money he looted from the people of the country? To his friends...We are working for the country, whereas they are working for their friends," the AAP leader said.

#WATCH | Delhi: AAP MP Sanjay Singh says, "Does Amit Shah's son know how to hold a bat? But, he is the chairman of BCCI. PM Modi wants a third term at the age of 73 years and a 'Jawan' will be retired at the age of 21 years? These people are 'ghor parivaarwaadi'. PM Modi, Amit… pic.twitter.com/BkIJiLuwVL

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2024

Rahul Gandhi Promises To Scrap Agniveer Scheme If Voted To Power

Not just Sanjay Singh, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a rally in Bihar said that the Centre was neglecting 73 percent of India's population and the Agnipath recruitment scheme, which sparked protests in Bihar, is an initiative against the country's youth.

The Wayanad MP also promised to scrap the Agnipath scheme if the I.N.D.I.A bloc is elected to power as the scheme was "forcefully imposed".

In April, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote: "The Agnipath scheme is an insult to the Indian Army and the brave youth who dream of protecting the country. This is not a scheme of the Indian Army but has been formulated in PM Modi's office which has been imposed on the Army".

He stressed that as soon as the I.N.D.I.A bloc forms a government it will "immediately scrap the scheme and bring back the old permanent recruitment process.

What is the Agnipath Scheme?

The Government had launched Agnipath scheme to recruit both male and female aspirants into ‘below the officer’s rank’ cadre for a period of four years as Agniveers. Those in the age group of 17.5 to 21 years are eligible to apply for the scheme. 

Under the scheme, these Agniveers would acquire "optimised basic military training and specialised trade training followed by up-skilling courses".

"Exposure through Agnipath Scheme and fostered allegiance to Naam, Namak and Nishan, would shape Agniveers into Nation Builders," the government press release stated.

They will be allowed to serve the country for four years after which they can take up jobs in alternative defence-related establishments in the public or private sectors, if they are not absorbed into the regular cadre.