Agnipath protests: BJP accuses Congress of playing politics, using youth for vested interests

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, June 19

Amid raging protests against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, the BJP today accused the Opposition parties of playing politics on issues of national security and armed forces to destabilise the government and using the youth for vested interests.

Terming as pure politics the Congress “satyagrah” against the Agnipath scheme, party spokesperson Sambit Patra also criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her call to topple the govermnment.

“On issues of safety and security of the country we all should stand tall, united as Indians, not as individuals from these political parties,” Patra said, questioning how would India become great if it does not reform, perform, transform.

Reacting to Priyanka’s comment that the ‘scheme will kill the youth and finish the Army’ remark, Patra also wondered why she did not demand reforms when defence services were operating on ‘depleted strength’ for 10 years during the Congress’ reign.

“Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has stated that they aim to topple the government. So, it is quite clear they are not concerned about the armed forces and the youth of this country. It is sad.

“There should be no politics on subjects of national importance. But politics is happening on such a subject and officers of the armed forces have to come forward and explain (the Agnipath scheme) to them,” he said.

Patra added that the way Lt Gen Anil Puri, Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, today explained the Agnipath programme at a press conference, there was no scope for doubt about it.

“It is sad to say that there should be no politics on some subjects. Politics is also taking place in the country on the subject of national policies and the army officers have to come and explain to them and have to say that there is no place in this country for arson and violence and do not indulge in violence,” he said.

Patra also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “walking on Agnipath” (path of fire) for the progress of the country and said that the Opposition is “not able to digest this”.

“The Prime Minister walks on the path of reform, perform and transform by working 24 hours a day. He walks on the path of Agnipath so that my country can progress, my India can become great. But some people are not able to digest this national policy, politics is being done on this too,” Patra said.

Congress MPs and leaders sat on a ‘Satyagraha’ at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday in solidarity with the youths protesting the Centre’s scheme for recruitment in the armed forces.