Stop 'trial by fire' of Indian youth: Raghav Chadha writes to Rajnath Singh
New Delhi, June 19: Rajya Sabha MP and Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Raghav Chadha wrote a letter to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of the controversial Agnipath scheme.
In the letter, the AAP leader stated the scheme had "justifiably caused great anguish among potential recruits from across the country". He further added that jawans need peace of mind and job security.
"The Union Government has failed to comprehend that a jawan supports not only himself but his family. Only individuals with courage and peace of mind can serve in the Armed Forces. A jawan that is busy contemplating career moves or wondering how his family will survive after his tenure of four years is over, will find it harder to serve our country. An ill-motivated soldier is certainly an avoidable proposition," the letter read.
It further read, "The scheme has overlooked issues of inadequate skilling. The Agnipath scheme allows for Agniveers to undergo a crash course in training of six months. An abnormally short period of training will have adverse consequences on the quality of service discharged."
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The AAP leader said that the new recruitment scheme allows for 'greenhorns to face the nation's greatest security challenges. Resultantly, we will be saddled without sufficient leadership and experience amongst the troops.'
He added that the Central Government's financial obligations towards the defence pension bill should not be offset by sacrificing the job security of our jawans. "We cannot shy away from our collective responsibility to give those who protect our borders a life of dignity. It is the least we can do for our jawans. This cannot be our solution to budgetary woes. Lives cannot be put at stake to balance the budget," it read.
The programme, according to Chadha, undermines regimental honour and lowers the quality of our troops. "Unity and coordination amongst troops are what drives our Armed Forces towards excellence, and with a shorter duration spent with their peers, we are sacrificing the spirit of the forces. It is the ethos of the regiment that keeps jawans united and determined. Any recruitment scheme must respect the regimental honour and ethos built into the system which has been bringing laurels to the country," said Rajya Sabha MP said in his letter.
He further added that such 'experiments' should not be imposed en masse.
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-PTC News
