Congress: Abolish Agniveer scheme, initiate regular recruitment of soldiers

Congress has demanded the immediate abolition of the Agniveer scheme and the initiation of regular soldier recruitment, terming it detrimental to the country's security and the traditional recruitment system of the army. Colonel Rohit Choudhary (Retd), Chairman of the Congress Ex-Servicemen's Wing, Colonel Ram Ratin Negi, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Ex-Servicemen's Wing, Colonel Sudheer Kumar, Vice Chairman of Western Uttar Pradesh, and Lieutenant Colonel Nojot Singh Thind, Chairman of Chandigarh and In-charge of Punjab, said in a joint press conference held at the Congress headquarters here on Friday that the Modi government had imposed the Agniveer scheme on the army four years ago. They stated that the then chiefs of the three armed forces had not advised the government to implement this scheme.

Colonel Choudhary said that Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, has been fighting against this scheme from the beginning. The Congress Ex-Servicemen's Wing and the party's Naya Yodhas launched the 'Jai Jawan' campaign across the country. They claimed that after the implementation of the Agniveer scheme, there has been a shortage of approximately 1.2 lakh soldiers in the army, and the dreams of approximately 1.5 lakh young people who joined the army and air force through the government's decision but are awaiting appointment have been shattered.

They said that the government, while making changes to the Agniveer scheme, has stated that Agniveers who complete four years of service will be given a two-year extension, and those who meet the selection criteria after six years will be made permanent. According to them, this change has been made due to the continuous pressure from Rahul Gandhi and Congress. They also said that if the performance of all Agniveers has been good, why should only 25 percent be made permanent and why not make the remaining 75 percent regular soldiers?

They alleged that more than 40 Agniveers have committed suicide due to distress over employment terms and discriminatory treatment under the Agniveer scheme. They said that Congress demands that the 25 percent Agniveers who are to be made permanent be given all the benefits of regular soldiers from their date of recruitment, Agniveers be given 90 days of leave and permission to marry like regular soldiers, and Agniveers who were separated from service on medical grounds be reappointed to suitable posts.

The head of the Congress Ex-Servicemen's Wing also demanded that the families of martyred Agniveers be given all benefits equal to regular soldiers and a lifelong pension, and that a complete account of the facilities given to Agniveers and the amount allocated for them be placed before the public. He said that Congress is launching the 'Jai Jawan-Part 2' campaign from today and will continue the struggle until the Agniveer scheme is abolished.

Colonel Sudheer Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Western Uttar Pradesh Ex-Servicemen's Wing, said that the Agniveer scheme has also affected the army's training system. It is becoming difficult to provide soldiers with the necessary regular training for proper training and the use of technical weapons in a four-year tenure. He said that such a system does not exist in the armies of Pakistan and China. According to him, when the four-year service of the first batch of Agniveers completes in December, the shortage of soldiers in the army could increase again due to 75 percent of the soldiers leaving, and a two-year extension is not a permanent solution to this problem.

Colonel Ram Ratin Negi, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Ex-Servicemen's Wing, said that in Uttarakhand, employment in the army is not just a job but a tradition that has been passed down through generations in many families. The Agniveer scheme has affected this tradition, and the youth and ex-servicemen of the state are demanding its abolition.

Chandigarh former army officers’ sector chairman and Punjab drug control chief, Lieutenant Colonel Nujot Singh Thand, said that the change in the Agni Veer scheme clearly shows that the government has been under pressure. He added that the Congress will continue to demand the cancellation of this scheme for the benefit of the country’s youth and the army.