A day after the Union government rolled out its ambitious ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment to the armed forces, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday questioned the plan, adding to a chorus of voices that has raised apprehensions over the initiative.
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“Why is the BJP government making recruitment to the armed forces its laboratory for experiments? Soldiers serving the army for several years, does the government see this as a burden?” the Congress general secretary's Twitter post, made in Hindi, read.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's tweet came in response to a news report of army aspirants staging protests in Bihar against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme. “Youngsters are calling this four-year rule a fraud. Our veterans, too, have objected to it,” she added.
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“On an issue as sensitive as recruitment to armed forces, there was neither any discussion nor serious consideration. Why this stubbornness?” the tweet also read.
{{/usCountry}}“On an issue as sensitive as recruitment to armed forces, there was neither any discussion nor serious consideration. Why this stubbornness?” the tweet also read.
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Under the scheme, which was unveiled by defence minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs, youngsters in the age group of 17.5 and 21 years, will join a service of their choice - army, air force, navy - for a duration of four years. After this, 25 per cent the recruits will be retained, while the remaining 75 per cent will be released back to civilian life.
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The Centre and three services have said that the new model seeks to lower the age profile of the three services, ensure a fitter military, and create a skilled and dynamic workforce for employment in other sectors.
On the other hand, veterans and military experts have raised concerns primarily over the presence of warfare-trained youths in the civil society which, according to them, may lead to a law and order problem. They have also questioned the need for recruitments on a short-term, contractual basis.
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The candidates who join armed forces under this initiative will be known as ‘Agniveers.’