A 10 per cent reservation has been earmarked in police and mining guard jobs for Agniveers, announced Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday, amid an escalating row over the Agnipath scheme between the Centre and the Opposition.  

The decision comes months before the state goes to polls. 

Launched in 2022, Agnipath scheme provides for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces. Those in the 17.5-21 years age group are inducted for a four-year period. There is a provision to retain 25 per cent of these recruits for 15 more years. The remaining will be given a financial package as their service comes to an end. Those recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers.

The Chief Minister said that the Congress is spreading propaganda regarding the scheme, adding this is a very good plan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it leads to skilled youth.

Mr Saini said that in Group C and D posts, an age relaxation of three years will also be made.

“However, in the first batch of Agniveers, this age relaxation will be five years,” Mr Saini said.  

If a private company pays a salary of Rs 30,000 to an Agniveer, then the government will give an annual subsidy of Rs 60,000 to that company, the Chief Minister said.

New Delhi:

The government on Sunday dismissed reports that the Agnipath Scheme has been relaunched, terming the social media message fake and clarifying no such decision to this effect was taken.

“A #fake WhatsApp message claims that the Agnipath Scheme has been re-launched as ‘Sainik Saman Scheme’ after review with several changes including duty period being extended to 7 years, 60 per cent permanent staff & increased income… GOI has taken no such decision,” the Press Information Bureau clarified on its X handle.

A #fake WhatsApp message claims that the Agnipath Scheme has been re-launched as ‘Sainik Saman Scheme’ after review with several changes including duty period being extended to 7 years, 60% permanent staff & increased income#PIBFactCheck

GOI has taken no such decision pic.twitter.com/1a3zmuVjfk

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) June 16, 2024

The fake message doing rounds contained a number of spelling mistakes, making it appear questionable.

The opposition, which has been critical of the Agnipath Scheme from the outset, aggressively questioned its credibility during the Lok Sabha polls campaign with the Congress ‘promising’ to do away with the scheme if voted to power at the Centre.

The Agnipath Scheme is a “tour of duty style” scheme that was implemented in September 2022 for the recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three services of the armed forces only for a four-year period.

Personnel recruited under this system would be called Agniveers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu against the Agnipath scheme, alleging there is “discrimination” in the nature and extent of benefits given to the families of the soldiers killed in action.

Mr Gandhi said though it is a policy matter that falls in the domain of an elected government, an “exception is warranted in this case” as she is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the issue affects national security.

In his two-page letter to the President of India, Mr Gandhi said he is writing to her with an appeal to provide ‘nyya’ (justice) to Agniveers, who lay down their lives in service to the nation.

ALSO READ | Poll Body Raps Congress Over Rahul Gandhi’s Agniveer, Constitution Pitches

“There can be no clearer illustration of the fundamental flaw in the Agnipath scheme – the creation of a ‘lesser’ cadre of soldiers who are expected to work on similar tasks with lower pay, benefits and prospects,” he said while sharing his letter to President Murmu on the scheme.

Mr Gandhi also referred to his recent meeting with the family of an Agniveer Ajay Kumar (23) in Ramgarh Sardaran village in Punjab, who gave the supreme sacrifice this January in a landmine blast near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

There can be no clearer illustration of the fundamental flaw in the Agnipath scheme – the creation of a ‘lesser’ cadre of soldiers who are expected to work on similar tasks with lower pay, benefits and prospects.

My letter to Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu on the… pic.twitter.com/GFXFGXkwOc

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 1, 2024

He said like every Indian, he was heartbroken by his martyrdom as Ajay’s promising life was tragically cut short at such a young age. He said he was also shocked to find his family living in abject poverty.

“Despite losing their son, they were proud of his sacrifice in service to the nation. However, they also described the shocking apathy and insensitivity displayed by the government in the aftermath of his death.

“Ajay’s family has received none of the lifetime benefits or social security that the families of regular soldiers receive. This means they will not get a pension, medical facilities, assistance for education, or preference in employment,” he said.

ALSO READ | Rajnath Singh’s ‘Back Off’ Reply To Opposition On Playing Politics Over Agnipath Scheme

Mr Gandhi also said that despite Ajay’s dream to serve his country, his hard work and the highest sacrifice, his family is denied the respect and recognition that other soldiers get, only because he is an Agniveer.

“The tragic situation faced by Ajay’s family is the same injustice that thousands of Agniveers face today, and lakhs more will face in the future,” he said.

Poor families like Ajay’s are left with little respite despite their children’s ultimate sacrifice, he said.

“The discrimination in the nature and extent of benefits accorded to the families of our slain Agniveers, compared to regular soldiers warrants your urgent attention,” Mr Gandhi said in his letter.

“This anyaay – injustice – is why the Congress Party and our INDIA allies have strongly opposed the Agnipath scheme, and have promised to repeal it if we form the government,” the former Congress chief said.

In the letter, Mr Gandhi said, “I request you to intervene. I recognise that a President does not generally interfere in matters of policy, which are the domain of the elected government.

“However, I believe an exception is warranted in this case, given both the seriousness of this issue, and your unique position.

“You are the Supreme Commander of India’s Armed Forces. You have taken an oath to devote yourself to the well-being of the people of India.” “Is this discrimination against our Agniveer martyrs not a risk to our national security? Is it not a grave injustice to our youth who bravely risk their lives to serve?” Mr Gandhi asked in his letter.

“Do we not owe a duty to ensure the well-being of Ajay’s parents, his sisters, and other families like theirs,” he also asked.

“These pressing questions can only be answered in the affirmative.

“Therefore, I appeal to you to use your distinguished office to do nyaay – justice to Agniveer soldiers who lay down their lives, by ensuring that they receive the same benefits as any soldier who makes the highest sacrifice for our motherland,” he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hamirpur:

Targeting Congress for “misleading” the country’s youth by spreading false propaganda on the Agnipath scheme, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth and Sports Anurag Thakur said on Sunday that the game-changing initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government guarantees 100 per cent employment.

“Every Congress leader is misleading the youth by lying about the scheme which guarantees 100 per cent employment,” Anurag Thakur said while campaigning in the Hamirpur constituency which goes to polls on June 1.

Asserting that the scheme allows India’s youth to serve the country by joining the Armed Forces, Mr Thakur mentioned that it is a win-win situation for all as youngsters exiting after four years will not only get a service fund package but also jobs in various Public Sector Undertakings.

“All BJP-ruled state governments have provided 10-20 per cent reservation in the state police for these young comrades. Reservations have also been made in the Central government’s paramilitary forces. Not only that, they have been given many concessions in selection. Congress should stop misleading the youth and should not play with their future,” the Union Minister said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the Agnipath scheme has been brought against the will of armed forces and if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, the party will discard it immediately.

“Rahul Gandhi will go to Italy or Bangkok but the Agniveers will continue to serve the country. It is PM Modi who named islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, cleared the One Rank-One Pension scheme, gave the latest arms and ammunition to our forces, got Rafale fighters, built INS Vikrant and Brahmos missiles… What did the Congress do for 40 years except for encouraging corruption and getting kickbacks in defence deals?” the BJP leader questioned.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu highlighting the “gross injustice” done to the country’s youths seeking regular employment in the armed forces due to the Agnipath scheme and urged her to ensure justice for them.

The future of nearly 2 lakh young men and women has become uncertain due to the decision taken by the Centre, Mr Kharge said in his letter to the President.

The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

Mr Kharge shared his letter on X and said the Congress is with the youths in the fight for justice for the armed forces aspirants “who are full of patriotism and bravery”.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also shared Mr Kharge’s letter on X.

In his letter to President Murmu, Mr Kharge said, “My main purpose in writing to you is to highlight the ‘anyay’ or injustice inflicted on the lakhs of youth whose dreams did not materialise despite the solemn promise made by the government of India.” These youths spent years in pursuit of their dreams and “the resulting frustration and hopelessness has even led to several reported deaths by suicide”, he claimed.

“Our youths cannot be allowed to suffer in this manner. I appeal to you to ensure that NYAY and justice is done,” he said.

Mr Kharge said he recently met a group of young men and women who had been selected for service with the Indian Armed Forces “but were cruelly denied the opportunity to serve their country”.

“Recently I met them and they told me that between 2019 and 2022, almost 2 lakh young men and women were informed that they had been accepted into the three armed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. These young men and women had struggled against all odds to pass gruelling mental and physical tests and a written exam.

“Until 31 May 2022, they believed that they had fulfilled their dreams and were awaiting only their joining letters. On that day, their dreams were shattered by the government of India’s decision to end this recruitment process and replace it with the Agnipath scheme,” he said.

Former Army chief General M M Naravane has written in his memoir that the Army was “taken by surprise” by the Agnipath and that “for the Navy and the Air Force, it came like a bolt from the blue”, the Congress leader noted.

There are many issues with the Agnipath scheme, Mr Kharge said, adding the scheme is “discriminatory” as it creates parallel cadres of soldiers who are expected to work on similar tasks with very different emoluments, benefits and prospects.

“The majority of Agniveers will be released into an uncertain job market after four years of service, which some have argued could affect social stability,” he said.

The future of almost 2 lakh young men and women has become uncertain because of decisions taken by the government of India, he added.

In June 2022, the government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services.

It provides for recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-a-half years and 21 years for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)