The Agneepath scheme was being discussed in the Center and the opposition on Monday before the monsoon session of Parliament began. However, the opposition camp – which plans to hold a detailed discussion on the Agneepath scheme in the upcoming session – categorically placed its demand on the issue with the central government.
According to sources, in the one-and-a-half hour-long meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the opposition MPs demanded that the Agneepath scheme be either withdrawn or sent to a parliamentary panel for further detailed investigation.
Sources said that 12 MPs from different political parties, including four from the BJP, attended the meeting held in Parliament.
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According to the opposition camp, he “strongly expressed his opposition” to Agneepath – the new military recruitment scheme.
According to sources, Rajya Sabha MP Shakti Singh Gohil, demanding its withdrawal, said, “If there is any major change/policy that the government introduces in a democracy, it is not done on trial or experiment basis. There is extensive discussion. This decision to start Agneepath was not taken by the armed forces. There is a tremendous uproar across the country against Agneepath. We demand that this scheme be withdrawn.
According to sources, a detailed presentation was made by the Defense Ministry officials to the members of the committee. Apart from the Defense Minister and the Army Chief, top officials of the Ministry of Defense and the three services were present on the occasion.
TMC MP Saugata Roy told the media, “The government was not able to answer any of our questions, so six members of the opposition wrote a letter to Rajnath Singh for a comprehensive discussion and to discuss the Agneepath plan with the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Has been asked to send to him.” persons after the meeting.
The signatories of the opposition memorandum include Shaktisinh Gohil and Rajni Patil of the Congress; Professor Saugata Roy and Sudip Bandopadhyay from TMC, Supriya Sule from NCP and AD Singh from RJD.
Interestingly, the seventh opposition MP Manish Tewari did not sign the letter.
According to sources close to Tiwari, during the question-and-answer session, the Congress MP from Punjab asked the maximum number of questions regarding the scheme.
A Tiwari camp source said, “It was a consultative meeting. Tewari did not sign the letter of the opposition, but expressed his concerns and counter-questioned the government on issues such as operational readiness, reduction in the size of the army, impact of the plan on the basic infrastructure of the army, etc. This was enough deliberation on the Agneepath plan.
The move assumes significance as the opposition wants to unitely protest against the Agneepath scheme in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 18.
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