New Delhi, Sep 18 Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for "playing politics" over the Agnipath scheme and said that is the BJP's responsibility to ensure jobs for Agniveers from Haryana, who are not retained after their four-year tenure in the armed forces under the short-term military recruitment plan.
Addressing a rally in Loharu in Bhiwani district of Haryana, which goes to the polls on October 5, Home Minister Shah accused the Congress of spreading fake narratives.
"They claimed that Agniveer soldiers would have neither work nor pensions. But I want to tell you that under the Agnipath scheme, soldiers are receiving 20 per cent reservations in police services... If any Agniveer returns, he will not be without a job and the BJP takes responsibility for this," he said.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Shah said: "The Congress, especially Rahul 'Baba', is playing politics. I want to tell Haryana's youth that 'Hooda and company', whose job is to spread lies, are saying what will happen to Agniveers later... but what I say, I do it."
He was referring to former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
The Agnipath scheme was introduced by the Central government on June 14, 2022, for short-term induction of personnel in the armed forces. It seeks to recruit soldiers for only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them in regular service. Those recruited under the new scheme are called Agniveers.
The government said replacing the legacy system would lower the age profile of the armed forces, ensure a fitter military and create a technically skilled war fighting force capable of meeting future challenges. But the decision sparked widespread protests and forced a concerted outreach by the government to scotch apprehensions about the scheme.
The controversy became a major electoral issue in Haryana, where tens of thousands of young men train for years to get into the armed forces.
The Congress promised to scrap Agnipath scheme if it came to power and the discontent around the scheme was seen as a major reason why the BJP slipped from 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 to just five in 2024. The issue is expected to play an even bigger role in the Assembly polls, when the BJP will vie for a third term.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Home Minister Shah said soldiers were seeking "One Rank, One Pension" for 40 years, but the party never fulfilled the demand.
"The people elected (Narendra) Modi ji as PM in 2014, and by 2015, he made it a reality," he said.
Referring to the J&K elections, Shah said Rahul Gandhi and NC leader Omar Abdullah have an agenda to release all terrorists after the polls and also hold talks with Pakistan.
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