'U-turn out of fear': Cong links Centre's Agniveer move to upcoming assembly polls
The Congress party has criticized the central government's decision to extend the Agniveer military service tenure by two years, labeling it a politically motivated 'U-turn' ahead of assembly elections. The opposition argues the scheme remains detrimental to youth employment and military structure.
Why it matters
The Agnipath scheme is a major point of contention in Indian politics, highlighting debates over military recruitment and youth unemployment.
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday described the Centre's decision to extend Agniveers' service tenure by two years as a "U-turn", claiming it was driven by the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand, where many young people aspire to join the armed forces."Elections are approaching in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. A large number of youth from these states want to join the armed forces. So, they (government) took a U-turn out of fear," Congress MP Pawan Khera told ANI.Also Read | Good news for Agniveers: Government extends tenure by two yearsOf the three states, the BJP, which leads the government at the Centre, will seek a third consecutive term in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.Reacting to the announcement by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani, Khera said the Congress had opposed the Agnipath scheme from the beginning as it would "adversely affect" the armed…
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