Left parties demand immediate scrapping of Agnipath scheme

DN Bureau

"For the last two years there has been no recruitment in the Indian Army and instead of recruiting regular soldiers into the armed forces, this scheme leaves such contract soldiers with no other prospects of employment after four years." Read further on Dynamite News:

Agnipath Scheme (File Photo)
Agnipath Scheme (File Photo)


New Delhi: Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly disapproved the 'Agnipath' scheme calling it a disservice to India's national interests. 

Professional armed forces cannot be raised by recruiting 'soldiers on contract' for a period of four years, said the Party.  

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly disapproves the 'Agnipath' scheme that does disservice to India's national interests. Professional armed forces cannot be raised by recruiting 'soldiers on contract' for a period of four years. This scheme, to save pension money, severely compromises the quality and efficiency of our professional armed forces," CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet.

Also Read | Agnipath Row: What BJP describes as good is fatal for country, says Rahul Gandhi

He further said that for the last two years there has been no recruitment in the Indian Army and instead of recruiting regular soldiers into the armed forces, this scheme leaves such contract soldiers with no other prospects of employment after four years.

"This creates a dangerous situation where they may end up serving private militias. This has hazardous implications for our social fabric already under severe strain. It is criminal to call upon our youth to be prepared to make the supreme sacrifice without the minimum protection of job security. The spontaneous protests in various parts of the country, reflects the anger against this scheme," added Yechury. 

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that this 'Agnipath' scheme be scrapped forthwith and regular recruitment into the armed forces be undertaken urgently," he said.

CPI general secretary D Raja tweeted, "Finding jobs has become literally a 'Path of Fire' under Modi. Govt is trying to hoodwink the restive youth by #AgnipathScheme. It'll make our army contract based & jeopardise the future of our youth.

The government had unveiled the scheme on Tuesday saying it will overhaul the decades-old selection process to bring in fitter and younger troops to tackle future security challenges facing the nation.

Around 46,000 soldiers will be recruited this year between the ages of 17 and a half years and 21 years into the Army, Navy and the Air Force. (With PTI inputs)










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