New Delhi, Jan 3 (Representative) The Congress on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow about 1.5 lakh youth, who had been selected for recruitment in the defence forces prior to the introduction of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, to join the services as they had completed all formalities and qualified for the final selection. Addressing a press conference here today, the Chairman of the Ex-Servicemen Department of the AICC, Col (Retd) Rohit Chaudhry also sought relaxation of one or one and a half years in their age since they had been selected two years ago.Col Chaudhry also questioned the rationale behind cancelling the recruitments of these 1.5 lakh youth when they had qualified and completed all the formalities. He alleged that 64 of them had committed suicide and asked who is responsible for this? The party also alleged that a Rs 100 crore scam had taken place during the recruitment process of Agnipath scheme and each applicant was made to pay Rs 200 as application fee. Col Chaudhry said that , about 50 lakh youth had applied which makes it Rs 100 crores. He asked, why should the money have been taken when the recruitment had been cancelled.
The AICC Ex-Servicemen Department Chairman reiterated his party’s strong opposition to the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, pointing out even former Chief of Army Staff MM Naravane had also written in his book that it had come as a surprise.He said that there were several shortcomings in the scheme and would compromise the security of the country as the country does not need a “contractual army”. He said, four years of service neither fulfilled the security requirements, nor did it offer any social or financial security to the recruits who get recruited at the age of 17 or 18 and get unemployed at the age of 21 or 22.Col Chaudhry alleged that there has been a massive drop in the number of applicants and aspirants for joining in the defence forces after the introduction of the Agnipath scheme.He said that the Congress party will continue to stand by these aspirants and pointed out, former party president Rahul Gandhi met them and their parents. He said Gandhi assured them that he will raise their voice from ‘sadak to sadan’ (street to parliament).