New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing ‘petty politics’ on Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Kharge’s criticism comes hours after Modi, during an address at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, targeted the Opposition for its criticism of the Agnipath scheme and accused them of attempting to weaken the Army.
“It is very unfortunate and deplorable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is doing petty politics even on occasions like paying tribute to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas,” Kharge wrote on X. “No Prime Minister has ever done this before.”
Kharge added that the prime minister’s claim that his government implemented the Agnipath scheme at the behest of the Army “is a blatant lie” and an “unforgivable insult to our valiant Armed Forces”.
“Modi ji, it is you who are spreading LIES! Former Army Chief (Retd.) General MM Naravane has said on record that 75% of recruits were to be taken for permanency in the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ and 25% of people were to be let go after 4 years. But the Modi Govt did the opposite, and forcibly implemented this scheme for all three Armed Forces,” Kharge wrote.
“According to news reports, Former Army Chief (Retd) General MM Naravane in his book which the Modi Govt, has stalled from being published, has also said, that the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ was shocking for the Army, and for the Navy and Air Force, it came like a “bolt out of the blue”!” he added.
Further, Kharge pointed out that several retired officers have strongly criticised Agnipath and said that it is endangering the national security and aspirations of the youth from rural backgrounds.
He added that the former officers have been demanding that the Agnipath scheme should be completely scrapped.
“All this is on record. Agniveers do not get any pension, no gratuity, no family pension, no liberalized family pension and no education allowance for their children,” Kharge added.
Announced in June 2022, the Agnipath scheme recruits personnel to the Indian armed forces for a short period of four years. At the end of four years, up to 25% of recruits, called Agniveers, join the services on a permanent commission (15 more years) subject to merit and other requirements.
