Congress slams govt over Agniveers’ absorption in private security agencies

The Congress party Tuesday criticized the government for its decision to absorb retiring Agniveers into private security agencies, instead of providing them with pensionable government jobs as promised.

Rohit Chaudhary, chairman of the Ex-Servicemen Department in the AICC, expressed his discontent over the move, saying it was “insulting and humiliating” for the Agniveers who had served the country for four years. “We cannot allow Agniveers to be turned into a private army and thrown into wars in the country and abroad. Our Jai Jawan campaign continues, and we will keep raising questions in the interest of the soldiers,” Col. Chaudhary said at a press conference.

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He reminded the government of its promise to provide pensionable jobs to Agniveers after their retirement, questioning why they were being sent to private security agencies instead.

The Agnipath scheme, introduced in June 2022, aims to recruit youth into the Indian Army on a four-year contractual basis, with only a small percentage being selected for permanent service. However, the Congress party has been vocal about its opposition to the scheme, arguing that it will weaken the Indian Army and demoralize potential recruits.

Col. Chaudhary reiterated his party’s demand for scrapping the Agnipath scheme and regularizing all those who have been recruited as Agniveers. “The scheme is deadly for the country’s security and for the youth, and it should be ended,” he said.

The Congress leader also pointed out that recruitment in the defence services had substantially declined after the introduction of the Agnipath scheme.

Highlighting the impact on Bihar, Col. Chaudhary said nearly 11 per cent of defence services recruitment was from the state, and there were about four lakh ex-servicemen there. The Congress will raise this issue in Bihar, he added, as Rahul Gandhi was continuously urged by the youth to get the Agnipath scheme scrapped during the Voter Adhikar Yatra.