Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday called on the government to withdraw 'Agnipath' - the contentious new 'tour of duty' recruitment scheme for the armed forces. The Congress leader declared that the amendment announced late last night - the upper age limit was increased by two years for recruitments in 2022 - was proof the scheme had been hastily imposed.
"Not even 24 hours passed... the BJP government had to change the rules of new army recruitment, meaning the plan is being imposed on youth in a hurry," she tweeted, demanding prime minister Narendra Modi 'withdraw this scheme immediately'.
On Wednesday too Priyanka Gandhi slammed the government over the 'Agnipath' scheme, tweeting 'the BJP (is) making recruitment to the armed forces its lab for experiments'.
READ: Priyanka Gandhi questions 'Agnipath' - 'Armed forces a lab for BJP?'
{{/usCountry}}READ: Priyanka Gandhi questions 'Agnipath' - 'Armed forces a lab for BJP?'
{{/usCountry}}She has been joined in her attacks on the government's 'Agnipath' scheme by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who warned the prime minister Thursday against taking an 'agnipareeksha', or 'test by fire', of armed forces aspirants.
READ: 'When India faces threats…': Rahul Gandhi warns BJP on 'Agnipath'
Opposition leaders - Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party chiefs Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal and CPIM's Sitaram Yechury - have joined the Gandhis in criticising the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme.
READ: Yogi's note to youth as Akhilesh, Mayawati raise concern over 'Agnipath'
Violent protests have broken out against the 'Agnipath' scheme this week, with trains torched in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, vehicles vandalised and roads blocked in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
There have even been reports of train passengers injured in Telangana.
READ: Agnipath protests LIVE - Train bogies targeted in UP, Bihar & Telangana
The government has defended 'Agnipath', stating it was rolled out after talks with serving military officials and that the 75 per cent of recruits who are retired after four years will get employment and education opportunities.
The scheme has also been defended by the chief ministers of BJP-ruled UP, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, who have said 'Agniveers' - or those who are recruited (and retired) under the 'Agnipath' scheme - will be prioritised for jobs in the public sector, including police.
READ: Agnipath scheme: What will Agniveers do after 4 years? Govt shares list
However, in a nod to concerns, the government has relaxed the upper age limit for recruits under the 'Agnipath' scheme from 21 to 23; this is for 2022 only.