Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel slammed the Union government over the ‘Agnipath’ scheme saying permanent recruitment should be conducted.
The government’s intentions don’t seem pure, Baghel said adding that once the youths are relieved after four years they might form gangs and get involved in criminal activities.
“They would have learnt to operate a gun. Where are you taking the society,” the CM asked.
“Why are you not conducting permanent recruitment? You didn’t recruit for 2 yrs. When a young man returns to his home after 4 years, unemployed, will you induct such a large number of people into the police force? What will become of those who don’t get inducted,” he asked.
Amid widespread protests against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in defence services, the Congress has demanded its immediate rollback, saying it is neither in the interest of the country nor its security.
Rajya Sabha MP Deepinder Singh Hooda said the scheme should be taken back immediately and a three-year age relaxation be announced for youths who could not join the armed forces due to delays in recruitment.
He also asked the government to apologise to the youth of the country for bringing the new short-term recruitment scheme for the armed forces.
“The government should immediately take back the Agnipath scheme. It is neither in favour of national security nor national interests and certainly not in favour of the country’s youth,” he told reporters at a press conference.
The party also demanded that the government convene either a special session of Parliament or an all-party meeting to discuss the armed forces recruitment issue and build a bipartisan consensus on the matter.
Meanwhile, the BJP has directed party leaders to defend the new recruitment initiative for the armed forces amid stiff resistance from the Army aspirants and the opposition.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had called the Agnipath scheme a “golden opportunity” for the youth to serve the country.
The party leaders also lauded the government’s decision to raise the upper age limit for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 this year.
