Former MoS Defence accuses Opposition of misleading people on Agnipath Scheme

New Delhi [India], July 26 : BJP MP and former Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, on Friday accused the opposition leaders of issuing "incorrect statements" against the Agnipath scheme. He said that the NDA government introduced the scheme after studying various similar schemes in other countries.
"Opposition is issuing incorrect statements again and again. What Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said is absolutely correct. Had there been something wrong, daughters would not have come for recruitment in such large numbers, and sons would not have come," Bhatt told ANI.
"We brought this scheme after studying schemes across the world. When they come out of the force, they will have learned several techniques and come out with a diploma. They will be readily accepted anywhere. That is why we are saying that the Opposition is unmindful and irresponsible," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the Agnipath scheme during his address in Ladakh's Kargil on Friday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Highlighting the scheme, PM Modi said that the goal of Agnipath was to make the Army young and keep the Army continuously fit for war. He said that the major reforms in the army have been a long-standing demand.
"The country has felt the need for major reforms in the defence sector for decades. The army has been demanding this for years, but unfortunately, it was not given enough importance earlier. The Agnipath scheme is also an example of the necessary reforms done in the Army. For decades, discussions have been going on in Parliament and many committees on making the army young," PM Modi said during his address.
"Those who are misleading the youth of the country. Their history is proof that they don't care about soldiers. These are the same people who lied on OROP by showing a meagre amount of Rs 500 crore. It is our government that implemented the charges. More than Rs 1.25 lakh crore was given to ex-servicemen," the PM added.
PM Modi said that the average age of soldiers in India being higher than the global average was a concern raised over the years and Agnipath resolved the matter.
"The average age of Indian soldiers being more than the global average has been a cause for concern. That is why this issue has also been raised in many committees for years. However, the will to solve this challenge related to the security of the country was not shown earlier. The country has addressed this concern through the Agnipath
scheme," he said.
"Some people used to think that the Army meant saluting politicians and doing parades but for us, the Army means the faith of 140 crore countrymen. The goal of Agnipath is to make the army young. The goal of Agnipath is to keep the army continuously fit for war," PM Modi added.
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