MoS Ajay Bhatt Slams Opposition for Politicizing ‘Agnipath’ Scheme, Calls It ‘Golden Opportunity’ For Youth

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 20^th June. Ajay Bhatt, the Union Minister of State for Defence, described the Centre’s Agnipath scheme as a “great chance” for youth, urging them not to let it “slip through their fingers.”

He urged the youth to keep the country peaceful and chastised the opposition for making controversial statements, asking them to speak appropriately.

He said, “I am from Yuva Shakti, I will appeal it is a golden opportunity that has come, do not let it slip from your hands and the future is bright, there will be no problem going forward.”

“We request them (youth) to understand (Agnipath) scheme & then take a decision. Convey if any errors. But is this the way that you’re burning buses, and trains, causing harm to national property?. The opposition should make responsible remarks and not provoke,” Bhatt added.

While talking about opposition remarks on the scheme, he said, “The opposition always keeps making irresponsible statements whether in the house or outside, when Article 370 was removed, and 35A was removed, people said that rivers of blood will flow in Jammu and Kashmir, and there will be a civil war in the country, but it did not happen, but today rivers of development are flowing in Jammu and Kashmir, democracy has become alive.”

“In a place where there was no democracy, democracy is persevering. The law is in the interest of the country, the opposition has never liked it,” he added.

He also stated that the opposition’s words should not be taken seriously.

He added, “When the surgical strike happened, the opposition spoke the same language as our neighbours.”

“Efforts are also being made to explain Agneepath completely. The scheme is being explained through TV channels, and newspapers. What is being said by the Defence Minister and Home Minister is being propagated by the TV and newspapers. Everything is done deliberately to defame the government,” he stated.

“I would like to appeal that it is not in the interest of any democratic country to burn the public property, it is also not in the interest of democracy, so I humbly request my youth that you guys study peacefully and you will see the golden future. You have got a very good opportunity, you should calm down and understand everything,” he concluded.

Protests against the new Armed Forces recruitment scheme have erupted in several parts of the country. Protests got violent in several areas, with trains being set ablaze.

Meanwhile, protests against the newly announced military recruitment programme, Agnipath, in Telangana’s Secunderabad became violent on Friday, killing one person.

On June 14, the Union Cabinet approved Agnipath, a recruiting scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three Armed Forces services. Those who are selected under this scheme would be known as Agniveers.

Agnipath is a programme that permits patriotic and determined young people to serve in the Armed Forces for four years. The Agnipath Scheme was created to give the Armed Forces a more youthful profile.

The Ministry recently announced that the upper age limit for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG), and Special Protection Group (SPG), will be 26 years.

Meanwhile, the first batch of Agniveers will be granted a 5-year extension beyond the upper age limit of 23, bringing their total age to 28.