'Agniveer now use and throw labourer': Rahul Gandhi slams Agniveer scheme; Rajnath Singh objects
PTC Web Desk: The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre on Monday over the Agniveer scheme. He claimed that Agniveers were being treated as "use and throw."
While addressing the House, Rahul Gandhi stated, "A few days ago in Punjab, I met the family of an Agniveer who was martyred in a landmine blast. I call him a martyr, but the Indian government does not recognise him as such. Narendra Modi refers to him as an "Agniveer," not a martyr.
"The family will not receive a pension or compensation, nor will their son be recognised as a martyr," he said, adding that the Agniveers are treated as "use and throw" labourers.
He accused the centre of driving a wedge between Indian Army personnel and Agniveers by treating them differently.
"You give an Agniveer six months of training and place him in front of Chinese personnel who have received 5 years of training. Not only that, but you are distinguishing between a jawan and an Agniveer based on the benefits," said Rahul Gandhi.
"You identify yourselves as patriots, but what kind of patriots are you?" he asked, looking at the treasury benches.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected to Rahul Gandhi's remarks, stating that Rs 1 crore is given to the family of an Agniveer who gives his life while protecting the country's borders or during a war.
He also accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to mislead the Lok Sabha by making wrong statements.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) should not try to mislead the House by making incorrect statements. The family of the Agniveer who gives his life while protecting our borders or during war receives financial assistance of Rs one crore," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the House had recorded two statements: one from the Leader of the Opposition and one from the Defence Minister.
"The Leader of the Opposition just stated that one crore has not been paid, and the Defence Minister responded. The House is not a place for spreading lies. Rahul Gandhi must present the facts, and if he is unable to do so, he should apologise," he said.
Rahul Gandhi quickly responded, stating that he had already presented the factual position in the House and that everyone was aware of it. This caused chaos in the House, with members of the Treasury benches challenging Rahul Gandhi's remarks.
Rahul Gandhi also stated that the Agniveer scheme, like demonetisation, originated with the PMO rather than the Indian Army and was the Prime Minister's brainchild.
The Defence Minister went on to say that 158 organisations had made suggestions for implementing the scheme. He also claimed that similar schemes exist in the United States and the United Kingdom, accusing Rahul Gandhi of speaking without proper information and requesting that his address be removed from House proceedings.
Rahul Gandhi responded by claiming that the Agniveer scheme would be scrapped when their government took power.
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- PTC NEWS
