DIMAPUR, JUNE 18 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has said that the Central Government’s Agnipath Scheme “will destroy the future of our youth at their prime age of learning.”
A press release from the NPCC President, K Therie said that 75% of the proposed Agniveers will be unemployed in their mid 20s with low educational qualifications. “It will surely destroy their future prospects. Moreover, the intended benefits of around 12 Lakhs cannot be termed as an adequate resource to sustain lifelong livelihood,” the NPCC said.
The party added that the 75% of Agniveers cannot be left with an uncertain future after making huge sacrifices towards the defense of the nation. This policy, the NPCC said, “exposes the BJP’s inner mind’s motive to bring the targeted population into backwardness and vulnerability to manipulate.”
“There may also be many candidates who will be trained as Agniveers and complete service but end up in fringe elements and organizations which will be detrimental to the interests of the nation,” it cautioned.
The NPCC further stated that the impact on the composition of the army’s battle worthy forces also needs proper review. “Four years inclusive of just about 6 months training along with the current leave is also not adequate to build a strong battle worthy army with camaraderie. An army particularly at the forefront relies to a great extent on this trait which can only be built with time,” it said.
Normally soldiers take years to train, the party noted. It therefore said that six months training would mean a short cut in training and “will definitely have serious compromises on a force tasked with defense of the nation.”
The NPCC said that until the government can come up with a better plan for the future of the youth and the Indian Army, Agnipath should be withdrawn instead of simply adopting a wait and watch policy on the outcomes of the scheme. “In the backdrop of BJP Government destroying the social fabric and economy of the nation and the religious sentiments of minorities, we demand the rollback of Agnipath scheme,” the Congress demanded.
