New Delhi: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday said the JD(U)’s demand for review of Agnipath scheme is “100 per cent correct” and stressed that the scheme should have been withdrawn earlier. Earlier in the day, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi told reporters here that the party has demanded a review of the Agnipath scheme, and will “pursue” the caste census issue. Speaking to PTI Videos, Singh said, “Agniveer is betrayal with Mother India and the Army. The prime minister should have withdrawn it earlier.” “Earlier a jawan was trained for a year but under this scheme (Agnipath), you reduced the training period to six months. Every youth is ready to sacrifice his or her life for the country. But you are weakening the army. This demand from JDU is 100 per cent correct,” the AAP leader added. In June 2022, the government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme for short-term induction of personnel with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three armed services. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States The scheme provides for recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Tag: Agnipath
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Agnipath makes national security impenetrable; no legal infirmity: Centre tells Delhi HC
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Responding to petitions assailing ‘Agnipath’, the Centre has told the Delhi High Court there is no legal infirmity in the scheme for recruitment in the armed forces which was introduced in the exercise of its sovereign function to make national security and defence more “robust, impenetrable and abreast” with the changing military requirement.
The Centre’s stand came on a consolidated counter affidavit filed in response to several petitions against the Agnipath scheme as well as pleas concerning the recruitment processes for the armed forces under certain previous advertisements.
The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, provides for the recruitment of young people between 17-and-a-half and 21 years of age for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Protests had erupted in several states against the scheme.
Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.
The Centre told the High Court that defending the Indian territory, which has a ‘peculiar border situation’, from external and internal threats requires agile, youthful and technologically adept armed forces and the Agnipath scheme, therefore, aims at reducing the average age profile of soldiers from the present 32 years to 26 years.
Recruitment through the Agnipath scheme, the central government added, involves a “merit-based, transparent and robust assessment process” and a fair opportunity would be provided to all willing personnel to compete for regular cadre and ultimately “nationalist, disciplined and skilled manpower would be provided to society and exited Agniveers will be an asset for the nation and society”.
“The policy decision to introduce the scheme was taken by the Government of India in exercise of its sovereign function to make the national security/defence arrangements of the country more robust, impenetrable and abreast with the changing military requirement of the country,” said the affidavit filed by the Centre as it asserted the present batch of petitions deserves to be dismissed at the threshold itself.
The scheme was introduced to restructure the intake and retention processes in the three services with a view to evolving a youthful, modern and futuristic fighting force.
The aim of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme was to achieve among other things a young combat force that is physically and mentally capable of taking up the new challenges anticipated by experts.
The government asserted while the scheme is not an exercise aimed at reducing the budget, it will contribute towards savings after 20 to 25 years, which can be better utilised for capability development, technology infusion and making the army strong, more capable and battle worthy, and aligned to the requirements of the future.
The government submitted with new military technologies, the conventional formations of the armed forces were ‘losing their edge’ which made structural changes in the overall organisation of the Indian armed forces a matter of necessity.
To keep the armed forces fit and combat-ready, experts suggested reformation to achieve the golden thumb rule of armed forces being young and fit at all times, it said.
“(There is) no legal infirmity in Agnipath scheme” The character of future wars/military engagement, in the opinion of military experts, is likely to be ambiguous, uncertain, short, swift, lethal, intense, precise, non-linear, unrestricted, unpredictable and hybrid.
“These challenges would be exacerbated by the inherent nature of terrain along our borders which ranges from the Rann swampy marshes, jungles, deserts, riverine, hills, high altitude, mountains and glaciated regions, as well as isolated island territories. Defending such territory from external and internal threats requires an agile, youthful and technologically adept Armed Forces,” the affidavit said.
It said India’s security environment is defined by a complex interplay of regional and global hostilities, proxy wars, infiltrations and armed aggressions.
The nation’s land and maritime borders face both traditional and non-traditional threats.
“Concurrently, our internal threats manifest in different dimensions including an on-going proxy war on the western front starting from the region of J&K. On the eastern front the organizations inimical to the nation’s interest are ambushing insurgencies. The Left-Wing Extremism in addition needs a strict vigil as it keeps on resurrecting intermittently,” it added.
It also clarified that Agnipath was not linked to the ‘right-sizing’ of the Army and that an independent study on manpower optimisation was already underway.
The affidavit said numerous consultations with stakeholders were undertaken during the past two years and the scheme envisages several benefits to the nation, including the availability of a ready pool of trained and disciplined manpower for other sectors in the government and private market.
Besides, military discipline, physical fitness and pride in the country will be ingrained in the citizens.
The Centre refuted the contention that the introduction of the Agnipath scheme without any amendment to the Army act is bad and void in the eyes of law.
It also rejected suggestions that the scheme will potentially lead to militarisation of the society.
In its affidavit, the Centre also clarified that as far as the recruitment under earlier schemes is concerned, there is no ‘vested right’ in the favour of the candidates and there is no bar on it to discontinue an ongoing process to introduce a new one.
The government said that post-Independence, it has been its policy to not raise any new regiment on the basis of a particular class, creed, community, religion or region and the recruitment under the Agnipath scheme is open to all eligible youth irrespective of caste and religion.
NEW DELHI: Responding to petitions assailing ‘Agnipath’, the Centre has told the Delhi High Court there is no legal infirmity in the scheme for recruitment in the armed forces which was introduced in the exercise of its sovereign function to make national security and defence more “robust, impenetrable and abreast” with the changing military requirement.
The Centre’s stand came on a consolidated counter affidavit filed in response to several petitions against the Agnipath scheme as well as pleas concerning the recruitment processes for the armed forces under certain previous advertisements.
The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, provides for the recruitment of young people between 17-and-a-half and 21 years of age for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Protests had erupted in several states against the scheme.
Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.
The Centre told the High Court that defending the Indian territory, which has a ‘peculiar border situation’, from external and internal threats requires agile, youthful and technologically adept armed forces and the Agnipath scheme, therefore, aims at reducing the average age profile of soldiers from the present 32 years to 26 years.
Recruitment through the Agnipath scheme, the central government added, involves a “merit-based, transparent and robust assessment process” and a fair opportunity would be provided to all willing personnel to compete for regular cadre and ultimately “nationalist, disciplined and skilled manpower would be provided to society and exited Agniveers will be an asset for the nation and society”.
“The policy decision to introduce the scheme was taken by the Government of India in exercise of its sovereign function to make the national security/defence arrangements of the country more robust, impenetrable and abreast with the changing military requirement of the country,” said the affidavit filed by the Centre as it asserted the present batch of petitions deserves to be dismissed at the threshold itself.
The scheme was introduced to restructure the intake and retention processes in the three services with a view to evolving a youthful, modern and futuristic fighting force.
The aim of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme was to achieve among other things a young combat force that is physically and mentally capable of taking up the new challenges anticipated by experts.
The government asserted while the scheme is not an exercise aimed at reducing the budget, it will contribute towards savings after 20 to 25 years, which can be better utilised for capability development, technology infusion and making the army strong, more capable and battle worthy, and aligned to the requirements of the future.
The government submitted with new military technologies, the conventional formations of the armed forces were ‘losing their edge’ which made structural changes in the overall organisation of the Indian armed forces a matter of necessity.
To keep the armed forces fit and combat-ready, experts suggested reformation to achieve the golden thumb rule of armed forces being young and fit at all times, it said.
“(There is) no legal infirmity in Agnipath scheme” The character of future wars/military engagement, in the opinion of military experts, is likely to be ambiguous, uncertain, short, swift, lethal, intense, precise, non-linear, unrestricted, unpredictable and hybrid.
“These challenges would be exacerbated by the inherent nature of terrain along our borders which ranges from the Rann swampy marshes, jungles, deserts, riverine, hills, high altitude, mountains and glaciated regions, as well as isolated island territories. Defending such territory from external and internal threats requires an agile, youthful and technologically adept Armed Forces,” the affidavit said.
It said India’s security environment is defined by a complex interplay of regional and global hostilities, proxy wars, infiltrations and armed aggressions.
The nation’s land and maritime borders face both traditional and non-traditional threats.
“Concurrently, our internal threats manifest in different dimensions including an on-going proxy war on the western front starting from the region of J&K. On the eastern front the organizations inimical to the nation’s interest are ambushing insurgencies. The Left-Wing Extremism in addition needs a strict vigil as it keeps on resurrecting intermittently,” it added.
It also clarified that Agnipath was not linked to the ‘right-sizing’ of the Army and that an independent study on manpower optimisation was already underway.
The affidavit said numerous consultations with stakeholders were undertaken during the past two years and the scheme envisages several benefits to the nation, including the availability of a ready pool of trained and disciplined manpower for other sectors in the government and private market.
Besides, military discipline, physical fitness and pride in the country will be ingrained in the citizens.
The Centre refuted the contention that the introduction of the Agnipath scheme without any amendment to the Army act is bad and void in the eyes of law.
It also rejected suggestions that the scheme will potentially lead to militarisation of the society.
In its affidavit, the Centre also clarified that as far as the recruitment under earlier schemes is concerned, there is no ‘vested right’ in the favour of the candidates and there is no bar on it to discontinue an ongoing process to introduce a new one.
The government said that post-Independence, it has been its policy to not raise any new regiment on the basis of a particular class, creed, community, religion or region and the recruitment under the Agnipath scheme is open to all eligible youth irrespective of caste and religion.
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Agnipath scheme: Punjab CM Mann assures support to Army recruitment drives
By PTI
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday assured complete backing to the Army’s Agnipath recruitment drives after the force’s zonal office said it will recommend its headquarters to “hold in abeyance” its recruitment rallies, citing lack of support from local authorities.
“We are constrained to bring to your kind attention that the support from the local civil administration is vacillating with no clear-cut commitments. They are usually citing their inadequacies due to lack of directions from the state government at Chandigarh or lack of funds,” Army’s Jalandhar Cantt zonal recruitment officer had written to Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua and Principal Secretary (Employment Generation) Kumar Rahul.
“We are now thus compelled to bring to your kind notice that unless clear-cut commitments are not received in writing on issues raised, we would be taking up case with Army Headquarters to hold in abeyance all future recruitment rallies and procedures in the state of Punjab, alternately conduct rallies in neighbouring states,” the letter said.
Reacting to the development, the Punjab chief minister on Wednesday tweeted that all deputy commissioners have been directed to provide complete support to the Army authorities for recruitment drives.
“Any laxity shall be viewed seriously,” the CM tweeted, adding that every effort will be made to ensure that the maximum number of candidates are selected from the state.
Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema replying to a question on the Army’s letter to the state government said the issue is not in his knowledge. He said people from Punjab had been getting recruited into the Army. “But we opposed the ‘Agniveer’ scheme earlier also and we are opposing it even today,” said Cheema.
The Army’s zonal officer earlier in the letter had said the support from the local administration for recruitment rallies under the Agnipath scheme is “vacillating”.
The officer asserted that the assistance from the local civil administration is an inescapable requirement to conduct an incident free and successful recruitment rally.
The letter had said there was a need for police assistance for law and order, security, crowd control and essential barricading to enable controlled and smooth entry of candidates to the rally ground. It had also said cited the need for medical support during the drive besides basic amenities of rain shelters, water, mobile portable toilets and food for prospective candidates.
The Centre had recently unveiled the Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of the youth aged between 17 and a half and 21 in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis. The youth recruited under the scheme will be known as “Agniveers”.
After the completion of the four-year tenure, 25 per cent of the recruits from each batch will be offered regular service.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday assured complete backing to the Army’s Agnipath recruitment drives after the force’s zonal office said it will recommend its headquarters to “hold in abeyance” its recruitment rallies, citing lack of support from local authorities.
“We are constrained to bring to your kind attention that the support from the local civil administration is vacillating with no clear-cut commitments. They are usually citing their inadequacies due to lack of directions from the state government at Chandigarh or lack of funds,” Army’s Jalandhar Cantt zonal recruitment officer had written to Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua and Principal Secretary (Employment Generation) Kumar Rahul.
“We are now thus compelled to bring to your kind notice that unless clear-cut commitments are not received in writing on issues raised, we would be taking up case with Army Headquarters to hold in abeyance all future recruitment rallies and procedures in the state of Punjab, alternately conduct rallies in neighbouring states,” the letter said.
Reacting to the development, the Punjab chief minister on Wednesday tweeted that all deputy commissioners have been directed to provide complete support to the Army authorities for recruitment drives.
“Any laxity shall be viewed seriously,” the CM tweeted, adding that every effort will be made to ensure that the maximum number of candidates are selected from the state.
Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema replying to a question on the Army’s letter to the state government said the issue is not in his knowledge. He said people from Punjab had been getting recruited into the Army. “But we opposed the ‘Agniveer’ scheme earlier also and we are opposing it even today,” said Cheema.
The Army’s zonal officer earlier in the letter had said the support from the local administration for recruitment rallies under the Agnipath scheme is “vacillating”.
The officer asserted that the assistance from the local civil administration is an inescapable requirement to conduct an incident free and successful recruitment rally.
The letter had said there was a need for police assistance for law and order, security, crowd control and essential barricading to enable controlled and smooth entry of candidates to the rally ground. It had also said cited the need for medical support during the drive besides basic amenities of rain shelters, water, mobile portable toilets and food for prospective candidates.
The Centre had recently unveiled the Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of the youth aged between 17 and a half and 21 in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis. The youth recruited under the scheme will be known as “Agniveers”.
After the completion of the four-year tenure, 25 per cent of the recruits from each batch will be offered regular service.
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Centre asked to file reply on pleas challenging Agnipath scheme
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and asked the Centre to file a reply on a batch of petitions challenging it.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the Centre to file a consolidated reply on petitions challenging the scheme.
The Agnipath scheme announced on June 14 provides for the recruitment of youths in the defence forces between the age of 17-and-a-half and 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Protests had erupted in several states soon after the scheme was announced last month.
Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment under the scheme in 2022.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and asked the Centre to file a reply on a batch of petitions challenging it.
A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the Centre to file a consolidated reply on petitions challenging the scheme.
The Agnipath scheme announced on June 14 provides for the recruitment of youths in the defence forces between the age of 17-and-a-half and 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Protests had erupted in several states soon after the scheme was announced last month.
Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment under the scheme in 2022.
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Uttarakhand minister questions norms for recruitment of ‘Agniveers’ into armed forces
By PTI
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand’s Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has questioned the norms being followed for the recruitment of “Agniveers” into the armed forces in the hill state.
“The height requirement for the hill people in Army recruitment rallies was reduced during the time of (former Chief of Defence Staff) General Bipin Rawat to 163 centimetres. But the colonel looking after the recruitment process for Agniveers in Kotdwar is still following the 170-centimetre criterion,” Maharaj said in a video statement.
He said he has spoken to the Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt about it and asked him to ensure that the recruitment of Agniveers is done strictly in accordance with the norms.
“As people in the hills are usually not very tall, a relaxation in the height requirement was given to the Army aspirants in Uttarakhand during the time of late General Bipin Rawat. However, it has been brought to my notice that the norm set by General Rawat is not being followed in the recruitment rally for Agniveers currently underway in Kotdwar,” Maharaj said.
He added that he has urged Bhatt to look into the matter and ensure that the norms are followed.
The recruitment of Agniveers began in Kotdwar on August 19 and will go on till August 31.
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand’s Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has questioned the norms being followed for the recruitment of “Agniveers” into the armed forces in the hill state.
“The height requirement for the hill people in Army recruitment rallies was reduced during the time of (former Chief of Defence Staff) General Bipin Rawat to 163 centimetres. But the colonel looking after the recruitment process for Agniveers in Kotdwar is still following the 170-centimetre criterion,” Maharaj said in a video statement.
He said he has spoken to the Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt about it and asked him to ensure that the recruitment of Agniveers is done strictly in accordance with the norms.
“As people in the hills are usually not very tall, a relaxation in the height requirement was given to the Army aspirants in Uttarakhand during the time of late General Bipin Rawat. However, it has been brought to my notice that the norm set by General Rawat is not being followed in the recruitment rally for Agniveers currently underway in Kotdwar,” Maharaj said.
He added that he has urged Bhatt to look into the matter and ensure that the norms are followed.
The recruitment of Agniveers began in Kotdwar on August 19 and will go on till August 31.
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‘Security, youth’s future in danger with this new experiment’: Rahul Gandhi on Agnipath
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked the Centre over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, saying the country’s security and the future of the youth are in danger with this “new experiment” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “laboratory”.
Sixty soldiers retire every year, out of which only 3,000 are getting government jobs, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
“What will be the future of thousands of ‘Agniveers’ retiring after 4-year contracts,” the former Congress chief asked.
“With this new experiment of the Prime Minister’s laboratory, both the security of the country and the future of the youth are in danger,” Gandhi said.
Several parts of the country had witnessed protests after the announcement of the scheme that seeks to recruit youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked the Centre over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, saying the country’s security and the future of the youth are in danger with this “new experiment” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “laboratory”.
Sixty soldiers retire every year, out of which only 3,000 are getting government jobs, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
“What will be the future of thousands of ‘Agniveers’ retiring after 4-year contracts,” the former Congress chief asked.
“With this new experiment of the Prime Minister’s laboratory, both the security of the country and the future of the youth are in danger,” Gandhi said.
Several parts of the country had witnessed protests after the announcement of the scheme that seeks to recruit youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years.
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Not allowed to discuss Agnipath, 3 Opposition MPs stage walkout of defence panel meet
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Opposition members on Friday staged a walkout from a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence alleging they were not allowed to discuss the Agnipath scheme, sources said.
They said members of Congress and BSP urged committee chairman Jual Oram to allow a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, arguing it has huge implications and required parliamentary scrutiny but were denied from doing so.
They added that Congress MPs K C Venugopal and Uttam Kumar Reddy, besides BSP’s Danish Ali, who are members of the panel, argued with the chairman that the Agnipath scheme has already been discussed in the Consultative Committee on Defence and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs have made a presentation before it.
The members also learned to have argued with the chairman that not allowing a discussion on Agnipath amounted to an insult to Parliament and not informing the committee about the scheme is breach of privilege. They urged him to list the issue for discussion in the next meeting, but the chairman denied permission, the sources said.
The sources added that Oram is learnt to have said that the issues to be discussed at the Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings are decided in advance at the beginning of the year and hence this request cannot be entertained now.
After almost half an hour of discussion in the panel meeting, the three opposition members staged a walkout in protest.
Issues concerning ordnance factory boards and DRDO had been listed for discussion at the meeting.
NEW DELHI: Opposition members on Friday staged a walkout from a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence alleging they were not allowed to discuss the Agnipath scheme, sources said.
They said members of Congress and BSP urged committee chairman Jual Oram to allow a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, arguing it has huge implications and required parliamentary scrutiny but were denied from doing so.
They added that Congress MPs K C Venugopal and Uttam Kumar Reddy, besides BSP’s Danish Ali, who are members of the panel, argued with the chairman that the Agnipath scheme has already been discussed in the Consultative Committee on Defence and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs have made a presentation before it.
The members also learned to have argued with the chairman that not allowing a discussion on Agnipath amounted to an insult to Parliament and not informing the committee about the scheme is breach of privilege. They urged him to list the issue for discussion in the next meeting, but the chairman denied permission, the sources said.
The sources added that Oram is learnt to have said that the issues to be discussed at the Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings are decided in advance at the beginning of the year and hence this request cannot be entertained now.
After almost half an hour of discussion in the panel meeting, the three opposition members staged a walkout in protest.
Issues concerning ordnance factory boards and DRDO had been listed for discussion at the meeting.
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Monsoon Session day one: Congress gives adjournment notices in Rajya Sabha on Agnipath scheme
By PTI
NEW DELHI: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress has given adjournment notices in the Rajya Sabha on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for armed forces and sought a discussion.
Congress member Deepender Hooda has moved a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, demanding a discussion on the Agnipath scheme after setting aside all other business of the House.
He sought a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, which he alleged has been “implemented across the country by the government unilaterally without any prior discussion and deliberation”.
Another Congress member, Shaktisinh Gohil, also moved an adjournment notice demanding immediate withdrawal of the scheme and saying that it is not good for the country’s national security.
He claimed that the youth are agitated over the scheme and have been protesting against it.
Similarly, in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment notice on the rise in prices of domestic LPG prices to Rs 1,053 per cylinder.
He has demanded that the government bring down the prices of domestic LPG to levels of 2014 and subsidies be provided to the beneficiaries of government schemes.
“The government should come forward to reduce the price of domestic cylinders and petroleum products in the country to ensure a standardised price at least for a year,” Tagore said in his adjournment notice.
Meanwhile, the Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha began on Monday with obituary references and new members taking oath, and was then adjourned till 2 pm so members could vote in the presidential poll.
As the House met for the first time in the Monsoon session of Parliament, three MPs, including veteran Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress’ Shatrughan Sinha, took oath as member of the Lok Sabha.
Speaker Om Birla then read out obituary references to three foreign leaders, including former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe, and eight former members who passed away recently.
Birla said elections in India are celebrated as a festival.
And since the election to the president was underway, it should also be celebrated, he said.
Members should participate in the festival, the speaker said, and declared the House adjourned till 2 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.
NEW DELHI: On the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress has given adjournment notices in the Rajya Sabha on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for armed forces and sought a discussion.
Congress member Deepender Hooda has moved a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, demanding a discussion on the Agnipath scheme after setting aside all other business of the House.
He sought a discussion on the Agnipath scheme, which he alleged has been “implemented across the country by the government unilaterally without any prior discussion and deliberation”.
Another Congress member, Shaktisinh Gohil, also moved an adjournment notice demanding immediate withdrawal of the scheme and saying that it is not good for the country’s national security.
He claimed that the youth are agitated over the scheme and have been protesting against it.
Similarly, in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Manickam Tagore has moved an adjournment notice on the rise in prices of domestic LPG prices to Rs 1,053 per cylinder.
He has demanded that the government bring down the prices of domestic LPG to levels of 2014 and subsidies be provided to the beneficiaries of government schemes.
“The government should come forward to reduce the price of domestic cylinders and petroleum products in the country to ensure a standardised price at least for a year,” Tagore said in his adjournment notice.
Meanwhile, the Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha began on Monday with obituary references and new members taking oath, and was then adjourned till 2 pm so members could vote in the presidential poll.
As the House met for the first time in the Monsoon session of Parliament, three MPs, including veteran Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress’ Shatrughan Sinha, took oath as member of the Lok Sabha.
Speaker Om Birla then read out obituary references to three foreign leaders, including former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe, and eight former members who passed away recently.
Birla said elections in India are celebrated as a festival.
And since the election to the president was underway, it should also be celebrated, he said.
Members should participate in the festival, the speaker said, and declared the House adjourned till 2 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.
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Defence minister Rajnath Singh briefs MPs on ‘Agnipath’ scheme, some seek rollback
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave a presentation to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence members on the “Agnipath” scheme for military recruitment on Monday, with some opposition MPs demanding its immediate withdrawal.
After the nearly-two-hour meeting addressed by the defence minister and the three chiefs of the armed forces, opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), raised objections to the new recruitment scheme and said it should be rolled back.
Sources said Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil cited the criticism of the scheme by experts and decorated soldiers and said it should be withdrawn as it would affect the morale of the forces and create confusion.
He said the scheme should first be launched as a pilot project and those trained be recruited in the armed forces. It should only be introduced after working out various modalities, Gohil added.
The Congress leader was supported by NCP MP Supriya Sule and TMC MP Saugata Roy.
They also gave a written document to the defence minister, seeking the withdrawal of the scheme, but Congress MP Manish Tewari did not sign it.
Tewari has publicly lauded the Agnipath scheme, saying it is a much-needed reform as the armed forces of various other countries have introduced such a scheme.
The presentation was aimed at addressing the concerns of the opposition leaders ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, starting July 18.
After briefing the MPs in the committee, the defence minister, the three service chiefs and the defence secretary answered several queries raised by them.
After the unveiling of the scheme on June 14, violent protests against it were reported from several states for nearly a week and various opposition parties had demanded its rollback.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently said it has received around 7.5 lakh applications under the scheme. The registration process began on June 24.
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Abe killing points to possible pitfalls of Agnipath scheme: TMC
By PTI
KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress has cautioned the Central government against the Agnipath scheme, pointing to the fact that Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a short-service ex-serviceman.
The party claimed that the killing underlined the possible pitfalls of the controversial defence recruitment programme. The state BJP, however, rejected the apprehension saying no Indian ex-servicemen had ever been involved in any such incident.
“The death of Abe at the hands of an ex-serviceman has only validated the fears of the people over the Agnipath scheme,” the TMC’s mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla’ (Wake up, Bengal) said in an article on Saturday.
The attacker lost his job in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force after three years of service and he was not getting any pension, it claimed. Agniveers too would not get any pension after their four-year service period is over, the article pointed out.
“The BJP is playing with fire in the name of the Agnipath scheme. We have seen what has happened in Japan. An ex-serviceman killed the former Prime Minister,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Sunday.
The BJP said that such apprehensions are baseless. “We have never heard of any such incident in which an ex-serviceman of our country is involved. The TMC is just trying to politicise the matter,” state BJP spokesperson Samik Samik Bhattacharya said.