New Delhi/Team Digital. Amid the violence over the ‘Agneepath’ scheme, Union Minister and former Army Chief General V.K. Criticizing the protesters, Singh (retd) on Sunday said that if they do not like the new recruitment policy in the armed forces, then they should not join the armed forces and there is no compulsion for it. Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city that the Indian Army does not recruit soldiers forcefully and interested aspirants can join it on their own. “Joining the army is voluntary and it is not a compulsion. If any aspirant wants to join, he can join as per his wish, we do not forcefully recruit soldiers. But if you don’t like this recruitment scheme (Agneepath) then don’t come for it (Join). Who is asking you to come?”
जो व्यक्ति अपनी रिटायरमेंट टालने के लिए 62 की उम्र में अदालत चला गया, वो आज युवाओं को 23 की उम्र में रिटायर होने के लिए सलाह दे रहा है #AgnipathScheme https://t.co/jQroO0lBpE
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) June 19, 2022
Hitting out at the opposition party over Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s remarks against the ‘Agneepath’ scheme, Singh alleged that the oldest party was finding fault even in the best work of the central government as it was being run by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by Rahul Gandhi. Angered by the questioning of Gandhi. He also accused the Congress of misleading the youth and trying to create unrest in the country. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in the day that the Agneepath scheme will prove disastrous for the youth and the army. Responding to a question on Priyanka’s statement, Singh said, “Congress is angry because the ED is questioning Rahul Gandhi. Therefore, the party is blaming even the best work of the government.” He said, “The opposition, especially the Congress, is trying to mislead the youth. The opposition has only one job left, That is to criticize and stop any government scheme. They want to create unrest in the country to defame the government.
Singh said that the concept of ‘Agneepath’ scheme was conceived at the time of formation of Kargil Committee after 1999 war. He said that there has been a demand for compulsory military training for the youth and other citizens of India for the last 30 to 40 years. “In the past it was said that training could be given through NCC but there was always a demand for military training,” he said, adding that the army is neither a job agency nor a company or a shop. He said that people join the army out of their interest to serve the country.
Announcing the scheme on Tuesday, the government had said youth in the age group of 17-and-a-half to 21 years would be recruited into the armed forces for four years and 25 per cent of them would be placed on regular service later. The youth who are recruited in this way will be called ‘Agniveer’. However, later in view of the opposition of the youth, the Center had decided to increase the age limit of the youth to join under the ‘Agneepath Yojana’ from 21 years to 23 years for this year. Priyanka said at the Congress’s ‘Satyagraha’ program at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday that the Agneepath scheme would prove disastrous for the youth and the army. He assured the protesting people of his party’s full support.