Bring resolution against Agnipath scheme in Punjab Assembly, demands Partap Bajwa

Chandigarh, June 18

Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Partap Bajwa on Saturday urged the state government to bring a resolution against the Agnipath scheme during the upcoming session of the Assembly.

He said the state should take an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain why the scheme must be immediately rolled back.

“Under the new plan and changeover to all-India, all-class composition mandated by the recruitable male population policy, Punjab’s representation in the Army will plunge dramatically from 7.8% currently to 2.3% in the not-so-distant future,” he said, terming it an insult to the sacrifices made by Punjabis for the country.

He further said the resultant loss of jobs for Punjabis and the chaos, frustration and unhappiness caused might lead to destabilisation of this strategic border state. “This situation can be exploited by anti-national forces and enemies lurking across the border,” Bajwa added.