Dilution of quality of education, professional opportunities in army: Tharoor on Agniveer programme

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the Indian Army over the Agniveer scheme, saying that when the government creates a situation where soldiers can be trained for six months and serve for three to four years, it undermines the quality of training and professional opportunities for the Indian Army.

“The professional reputation of the Indian Army is extremely high worldwide. It is considered one of the most professional armies in the world and maintaining that professionalism is in the interest of the entire nation.

“When you create a situation where soldiers can be trained for six months and serve for three to four years, you are diluting the quality of training and the professional opportunities available to the Indian Army,” Tharoor said.

“I believe it is very damaging. The only reason for this is to save money on retirement. That’s why I think Congress is right to push for the plan to be scrapped if we get into office,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the Agnipath scheme during his speech in Kargil, Ladakh, on Friday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the plan and said that the aim of Agnipath was to make the army young and keep the army continuously fit for war. He said that the major reforms in the army are a long-standing demand.

“The country has felt the need for major reforms in the defense sector for decades. The military has been demanding this for years, but unfortunately, not enough importance was given to it earlier.

The Agnipath scheme is also an example of the necessary reforms that have been brought about in the army. For decades, there has been talk in Parliament and in many committees about rejuvenating the army,” PM Modi said in his address.

Several BJP-led state leaders have announced reservations for Agniveers in their states.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said the government has decided to reserve Agniveers for police, prison guards and forest guards once they complete their service in the Indian Army.

At the same time, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also announced that his government will recruit most of the Agnivers for the state police. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced a 10 percent quota and five years relaxation in age for Agnivers in uniformed services.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday announced that Agniveer jawans will be given reservations in the recruitment of police and armed forces personnel in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced that Agniveers, after his service in the country, will play a key role in recruiting personnel for the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Provincial Armed Forces (PAC).

He indicated that the country would benefit from trained and disciplined young soldiers in the form of Agniveers.