look news india
Jalandhar : The Agniveer scheme introduced by the current central government for army recruitment was brought in a hurry without any thought. While this is making the youth unemployed again by recruiting them temporarily in the army, it is also becoming a threat to the national security of the country.
These sentiments were given by retired Lieutenant General Harwant Singh, Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal and retired Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Kahlon during a press conference at a hotel here today, along with whom the opposition Congress leader in the assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa was also present. He said that every year 66,000 soldiers retire from the Indian Army, while 20,000 soldiers are being recruited through the Agniveer scheme. In this way, 46,000 soldiers are being cut from the army every year. If the number of the Indian Army keeps decreasing like this every year, then a day will come when the number of soldiers for the security of India will become nominal.
Retired Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal said that the current central government is saying that it will make firemen skilled and employable in four years, which is completely wrong because a soldier joining the army learns to use weapons in different ways during the four years. Also, 25 percent of the firemen who re-recruit in the army will not be able to get military benefits on retirement because they will not be able to complete at least 20 years of service as a soldier. Dhaliwal said that the Center keeps only 1.5 percent of the budget for the army, which is very less. Therefore, 3 percent of the total budget should be reserved for the army, so that apart from the salary, pension and other expenses of the army, modern military equipment will also be easily available.
Retired Lieutenant General Harwant Singh said that Agniveer, who is out of job after four years, will either take the wrong path due to unemployment and fall into the hands of gangsters and anti-national elements. This will not only pose a threat to the national security of the country but will also deteriorate the peace and tranquility in the country.
Military Welfare Services Punjab Retired. Director Retired Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Kahlon said that the Central Government of the Bharatiya Janata Party did not take the Army Chiefs into confidence even once before bringing the Agniveer scheme nor did it consult them, whereas the top officials of the Army could have changed the recruitment process for the better. He said that while the future of the youth is being ruined due to the Agniveer scheme, their families will also be deprived of the benefits given to ex-servicemen. That is why he and his retired army brothers believe that the Agniveer scheme is fatal for both the country and the youth wishing to join the army.
Once our government is formed, we will end the Agniveer scheme
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa said that the Congress has given guarantees for both the farmers and the youth of the country in its election manifesto. This includes giving MSP to the farmers on crops and ending the Agniveer scheme in view of the security of the country. Bajwa said that the youth who serve in the army for four years cannot be filled with the spirit of fighting and dying for the country, which is in the soldiers recruited earlier, because the youth who join as Agniveer sacrifice themselves in the army. After that, there will be no fixed financial assistance for the livelihood of their families for the country.
