New Delhi: Terming the newly-launched Agnipath scheme “directionless”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has ignored the voice of the youth. “I am sad that the government has ignored your voice and announced a new scheme that is completely directionless,” she said.
“Several ex-servicemen and defence specialists have also raised questions on this scheme,” she added.
Gandhi asserted the Congress pledges to stand with the protesting youth and work for withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme.
The Congress president also appealed to the youth to adopt peaceful and non-violent means to fight for their demands.
“I appeal to all of you to protest peacefully in a non-violent manner. The Indian National Congress is with you,” she said in her message.
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Reaching out to the youth, Gandhi said: “You aspire to do an important job of service to the nation by joining the Indian Army. I can understand the pain of not being recruited for the last three years despite having lakhs of vacant posts in the army.”
“My sympathies are also with those youngsters, who are waiting for their results after having appeared in the Air Force recruitment exams,” she added.
The Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces was launched by the three service chiefs earlier this week in Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s presence.
This scheme has, however, sparked protests in many parts of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has in the wake of protests revised the upper age limit for Agniveers, the youth recruited under the Agnipath scheme, extending it to 23 years as a one-time measure.
Earlier on June 14, the Union Cabinet approved the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the Indian youth to serve in the armed forces.
The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers and will serve in the armed forces for a period of four years.