BJP’s firebrand leader K Annamalai hit out at former central minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram for his comments on applications under the Agnipath scheme. Chidamabaram had said that over 7.5 lakh applications for 3,000 posts in the Indian Air Force shows that the unemployment situation is so extreme that youth are willing to take any job.
Reacting to this, BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai said the armed forces had felt disenchanted during the UPA regime led by the Congress. He said between 2009 and 2013, 52,243 soldiers took premature retirement from the Army. Then, he said, the UPA government began a campaign called “Army as a Career”.
“During the UPA regime, the armed forces felt disenchanted. Between 2009 & 2013, 52,243 soldiers took premature retirement from the Army. The then UPA govt began a campaign called “Army as a Career”. Fact: After crushing the nationalistic spirits, Campaigns won’t help,” Annamalai said in a tweet.
His comments came after Chidamabaram in a tweet said: “Fact: 7,50,000 applicants for 3000 posts in IAF under the Agniveer scheme. Wrong conclusion: the Agniveer scheme is popular among the youth. Right conclusion: the unemployment situation is so extreme that desperate youth are willing to take any job.”
The Centre has rolled out a new scheme for armed forces where soldiers will be recruited for four years. After four years, 25 per cent will be retained for permanent tenure and the rest 75 per cent will be sent back with a package of 11.71 lakh. These soldiers will not be entitled to any other benefits like pension and gratuity.
The opposition parties including the Congress have been demanding the rollback of the scheme saying it will weaken the armed forces as soldiers will not be well trained in such a short tenure and no retiral benefits will also bring down their morale.
