Congress Accuses PM Modi Of 'Petty Politics' On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Calls Remarks On Agnipath Scheme 'Blatant Lie'

This criticism came after the remarks of PM Modi stating that the Agnipath military recruitment scheme was an example of necessary reforms undertaken by the Army.

Congress stated that PM Modi's Agnipath scheme claim is a 'blatant lie' and an insult to armed forces.

Source : PTI

The Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of engaging in "petty politics" during his tribute to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas. Party called PM Modi's statement about implementing the Agnipath scheme at the Army's request a "blatant lie."

The Congress' criticism followed after Modi's remark that the Agnipath military recruitment scheme was an example of necessary reforms undertaken by the Army and accused the opposition of politicising the recruitment process intended to maintain a younger average age in the armed forces.

During his Kargil Vijay Diwas speech in Dras to mark the 25th anniversary of victory in the Kargil War, Modi dismissed claims that the Agnipath scheme was introduced to cut pension costs and accused some people of politicising a sensitive national security issue.

'Unforgivable Insult To Our Valiant Armed Forces': Kharge On PM Modi's Agnipath Scheme Remarks

Lashing out at Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "It is very unfortunate and deplorable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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!" he said in a post on his social media handle X.

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…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 26, 2024

Kharge cited former Army chief General (Retd) MM Naravane, who stated that originally, 75 per cent of recruits were to be made permanent under the Agnipath scheme, with the remainder released after four years. However, contrary to initial plans, the Modi government enforced this scheme across all three armed forces.

"According to news reports, former Army Chief General (Retd) MM Naravane in his book, which the Modi government has stalled from being published, has also said that the 'Agnipath Scheme' was shocking for the Army, and for the Navy and the Air Force, it came like a 'bolt out of the blue'!" he said.

"Are we creating professional soldiers, only by six months of training?" Kharge questioned. He also asserted that soldiers join the Army out of patriotism, not to earn a living.

He claimed that many retired officers have criticised the scheme for endangering national security and the aspirations of rural youth, and have demanded to completely scrap it. 

Jairam Ramesh Accuses PM Modi Of 'Lying Even On Kargil Vijay Diwas'

"Agniveers do not get any pension, no gratuity, no family pension, no liberalised family pension and no education allowance for their children," he said. "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! The Congress party's demand is consistent -- the Agnipath Scheme should be scrapped!" Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the prime minister of "lying even on Kargil Vijay Diwas".

"He (Modi) says that the Agnipath/Agniveer scheme was introduced by the Army. General MM Naravane, who was Army chief at that time, has written that the scheme came as a complete surprise to the Army and as 'a bolt from the blue' to the Navy and Air Force. Mr Modi is now trying to evade his responsibility for this disastrous scheme," Ramesh said in a post on X.

स्वयंभू नॉन-बायोलॉजिकल प्रधानमंत्री ने कारगिल विजय दिवस के अवसर पर भी झूठ बोला है।

1. उनका कहना है कि अग्निपथ/अग्निवीर योजना सेना द्वारा शुरू की गई थी। जबकि जनरल एमएम नरवाने, जो उस समय सेना प्रमुख थे, ने लिखा है कि यह योजना सेना के लिए पूरी तरह से आश्चर्यचकित करने वाली और नौसेना… https://t.co/G3odp58a1B

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 26, 2024

"He (Modi) says that managing the pension bill has nothing to do with the introduction of Agnipath. This is contrary to all that government spokespersons, military experts, and defence commentators have been pointing out for the last two years," Ramesh further stated.

"There has been unanimity that managing the pension bill of the Government of India was the primary motivation for Agnipath/Agniveer. Now Mr Modi says that this is not true," he added.

Hitting out at PM Modi, Ramesh remarked that it is truly astounding what this "self-proclaimed divinity" attempts to get away with. "But the people of India found him out on June 4th, 2024 and it is clear that he’s getting even more self-delusional," the Congress leader said.