Drawing a binary between the “real nationalist” and “fake nationalists”, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra exhorted the young to wake up to the reality of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. She was speaking at a “ satyagraha” organised by the Congress against the Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment to the defence services, and in solidarity with nationwide protests against the scheme at the national capital’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
Addressing the youth, she said, “You dream about getting recruited in the army. A job that will help you take care of your family and the country. There is no bigger patriot than you. And I would say that you must keep your eyes open to recognise the fake nationalists and fake patriots.”
She said it was wrong to say that Agnipath scheme was an impulsive decision. Ms. Vadra added that this scheme, like many others, was a pre-meditated plan of the BJP government that will “kill the youth” of the country and “finish the army”. The BJP government is not working for the people, she said, alleging that all its schemes were aimed to benefit a select few “friends” of the party.
