“Soldiers Have Become Like Labourers”: Rahul Gandhi remarks on Army scheme Agniveer

In a recent rally in Mahendragarh, Haryana, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress (INC), made some interesting points about the Army scheme Agniveer and farmers’ issues.

The Agniveer scheme, which was introduced by the Indian government in 2022, is about recruiting young guns into the armed forces for a short term. Specifically, it’s targeting people between the ages of 17.5 to 21 years.

Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Army Scheme Agniveer and Promises Its Abolition

These recruits, known as Agniveers, serve for a four-year period. But after that, only 25% of them will be kept on for a longer duration of 15 years.

Gandhi criticized this scheme, saying it was created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office (PMO) instead of the Indian Army itself. He felt that it didn’t provide enough benefits and recognition to these Agniveers, like giving them martyr status, pension, and canteen facilities.

Addressing a public meeting in Haryana’s Mahendragarh, Rahul Gandhi claimed, “PM Narendra Modi has made the jawans (soldiers) of India like labourers…The Army doesn’t want the Agniveer scheme. It’s a scheme made by PMO. Once Congress comes to power we will discard the scheme entirely.”

Gandhi promised the audience that if the Opposition INDIA bloc comes to power, they would completely scrap the Agniveer scheme. He made it clear that the Army doesn’t support the scheme and that it doesn’t align with the nation’s military traditions or the dreams of its youth. He wants to see a change that truly respects and honors our soldiers.

Gandhi also took the time to address the concerns of hardworking farmers. He accused the Modi government of favoring wealthy industrialists by waiving their debts, which adds up to a whopping Rs 16 lakh crore, for 22 billionaires. Can you believe that? On the other hand, he claimed that the government refuses to waive the debts of our farmers, which seems pretty unfair. Gandhi stressed the importance of tackling the challenges faced by farmers and highlighted their crucial role in our nation’s economy and food security.

Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to prioritize the welfare of farmers and provide them with the necessary support and assistance.

Gandhi’s rally in Mahendragarh, Haryana, has sparked a heated debate about the Agniveer scheme and the challenges faced by farmers. People are discussing whether the scheme truly benefits the armed forces and whether enough is being done to address the issues faced by farmers.

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