'Ex-Servicemen Said Agnipath Scheme Idea Came From RSS': Rahul Gandhi In Lok Sabha
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi claimed that youths aspiring to be in the Army were not on the same page as the government on the Agnipath scheme.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government over the 'Agnipath' scheme, alleging that it was imposed on the Army by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Home Ministry.
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said he learnt a lot during his recently concluded Bharat Jodo Yatra and got the opportunity to listen to the inner voice of India.
Gandhi claimed that youths aspiring to be in the Army were not on the same page as the government on the scheme.
"People also talked about Agniveer scheme but youth of India told us about them being asked to leave after 4 years. Retired senior officers said that Agniveer Yojana came from RSS, Home Ministry and not from Army," ANI quoted Gandhi as saying.
READ | What Is The Secret Of Adani's Success And What's His Link With PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi In Parliament
Gandhi said retired officers told him during his Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march that the Agniveer scheme was being "coerced" on the Army.
"Retired officers said that people are being given arms training and then asked to go back to society, this will lead to violence. They (retired officers) have in their mind that Agniveer scheme didn't come from Army and that NSA Ajit Doval coerced the scheme on Army," Rahul Gandhi further said.
The Congress leader said unemployment, price rise and farmers' problems were the main issues highlighted by people during the yatra but were not even mentioned in the President's address.
"We asked youth about their jobs, many said they are unemployed or drive Uber. Farmers talked about not getting money under PM-BIMA Yojana, their land being snatched away while tribals talked about tribal bill," Gandhi said.
Gandhi also raised the Adani issue, linking the massive rise in the business fortunes and personal wealth of businessman Gautam Adani to the Modi government coming to power in 2014.
"All over the country, one word that i heard from Kerala to Kashmir is Adani, Adani, Adani. This name when people asked me about, they wanted to know how come he was successful in every business, how come he never failed?" he said while showing a poster of Adani with PM Modi.
"Youth asked us that Adani is now in 8-10 sectors and that how his net worth reached $140 billion from $8 billion from 2014 to 2022. Only Adani is being talked about from apples of Kashmir, Himachal to ports, airports and even the roads we are walking on," Gandhi further said.
The Adani Group has lost more than USD 100 billion in market value since US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group has denied any wrongdoing and has threatened to sue Hindenburg.
Gandhi's claims drew a sharp response from the treasury benches, with Law Minister Kiren Rijiju asking him to not level "wild allegations" and furnish proof of his claims.
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