Among these, one of the most disputed and recently launched by the government is the Agnipath scheme of military recruitment. The issue led to a verbal battle between Rahul Gandhi, Congress, and Rajnath Singh, Union Minister, who claimed that the latter was misleading the public.
Yes, during a debate on the Budget Session of India, Rahul Gandhi categorically said that the Agnipath scheme stripped soldiers and families of financially secure and respectable living without pension. In the process, he said, the scheme shows the government’s Bias towards the “youth and farming” communities.
Nevertheless, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh denied Gandhi’s assertions, explaining that Agniveers who die in the line of service are given a sum of ₹ 1 crore. Unfortunately, the Congress leader seems to have misconceptions about the scheme, stated the minister, adding that he was ready to address the issue in the house.
Sour talk between the two leaders is not new since this is not the first time it has occurred. A similar discussion had taken place in the Lok Sabha on July 1, where Gandhi attacked the government for not honoring an Agniveer killed in a landmine blast as a “martyr. ”
The Agnipath scheme, still active in 2022, was designed to change the recruitment pattern in the agreement forces so that personnel serve only for a short time and to imbibe a young generation. However, the scheme has attracted criticism, with questions being asked about the security of the job and pension for the Agniveers.
The debate has ensued further with a parliamentary committee earlier proposing that families of Agniveers who die on duty should be given the compensation payable to a martyr’s family of a regular soldier.
In the meantime, the debate appears to be escalating between the government and the opposition, with both sides accusing each other of distorting the facts regarding the issue. As it stands now, the outlook of the Agnipath scheme military and its effects continue to draw considerable controversy and debate.
