JAIPUR: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday demanded immediate withdrawal of Agnipath, a scheme for short-term induction of soldiers in the armed forces announced by the Centre, saying the scheme amounts to "playing with the future of the youth and the security of the country".
"It is an imprudent decision to make contractual recruitment in a sensitive institution like the Army. The Army was kept free from non-political and financial shackles till now. On the one hand, it was argued that the New Pension Scheme (NPS) was not implemented in the Army so that the soldiers can continue their work for the nation without worrying about the future. Agnipath scheme is playing with the future of the youth and the security of the country," said Gehlot in a tweet.
The CM said in another tweet that thousands of youths of Rajasthan join the Army to serve the country and that the Agnipath scheme has created anger and resentment among the youth across the country.
"Keeping in view the way the angry youth are protesting all over the country, the central government should withdraw this scheme immediately. I appeal to the youth not to take the path of violence in protest," added Gehlot in another tweet.
Former deputy CM Sachin Pilot has demanded immediate withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme with humility considering the protest. Talking to the media in AICC, Pilot said, "The government should have filled the vacant posts in the army first. There was no recruitment in the army for two years. On the pretext of Covid, the government did not recruit for two years. There are 1.20 lakh army officers posts vacant now."
