Defer scheme, seek Alagiri, Narayanasamy

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president KS Alagiri on Saturday urged the Union government to defer the Agnipath scheme and consult veterans of all three Defence forces on the issue.

Stating that the Agnipath scheme demonstrates the Union government’s continuous assault on the youths instead of creating jobs and securing their future, Alagiri said, “Threat has loomed large at our border owing to the failure to maintain friendly ties with our neighbours. Well trained, fearless and competent soldiers are the need of the hour. Agnipath has not factored in these aspects. It is our bounden duty to warn the nation of the drastic consequences of the hastily announced Agnipath scheme.”

“Hence, the Agnipath scheme should be deferred. The Union government should immediately consult serving and retired officers of the three forces. The new scheme should be announced without compromising on quality, efficiency and finance,” the TNCC chief said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy also demanded the Centre that the Agnipath scheme be withdrawn forthwith.

Talking to reporters, he said, the fact is that 75 per cent of the recruitees under the scheme will be sent out after four years and it raised several questions and suspicious.

He alleged that RSS is giving training to lakhs of youths in Nagpur with sticks and now the Agnipath scheme is a ploy to ensure the entry of RSS in the Army. Those trained with sticks will now get training with guns, he added.