Congress’ Protest Against Agnipath Scheme

New Delhi, January 11: The Ex-Servicemen Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) today staged a protest against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme of the government demanding its immediate scrapping.

The party also demanded that about 1.5 lakh youths who had qualified all the tests in various recruitment notifications issued during 2019 to 2022 and were set to join the Army/Airforce before the Launch of Agnipath scheme in Jun 2022 but were denied induction afterwards, be inducted in their respective service.

The dharna was led by Col Rohit Chaudhry (Rtd), National Chairman of the Ex-Servicemen Department of the AICC. Thousands of youth from across the country participated in the protest.

He said, this was in follow up to Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with these youths as he had promised them that the party will fight for them from ‘Sadak to Sansad’. Several such recruits who had marched from Champaran, Bihar, the land of Satyagrah of Mahatma Gandhi, for about 1100 kms to reach at Delhi and had met Mr Rahul Gandhi here.

Giving details, he said, before the ‘Agnipath’ scheme was launched about 1.5 lakh youth across the country had qualified all the tests including the physical tests, medical, documentation and written tests  in many cases.  He said they were waiting for the joining instructions/ letters only. He said, however, after the ‘Agnipath’ scheme was launched, they were denied appointments, which is quite unfair.

Demanding their immediate induction into the army, Col Chuahdry said, the party also seeks scrapping of the Angipath scheme, which is not in the national interest. He said, all those who have been recruited as ‘Agniveers’ must also be regularised as regular soldiers.

Col Chaudhry said, the issue of ‘Agnipath’ and the appointment of 1.5 lakh youth will also be highlighted during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as this concerns social justice and Nayay for these unemployed youths.

He also said that congress party firmly stands behind these youths and shall also fight their legal battle in Hon’ble Supreme Court to get befitting justice to them.