North News
New Delhi, July 27
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced on Saturday that the Agnipath scheme will be cancelled “as soon as we come to power.” This statement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revealed a reservation for retired Agniveers. While campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Yadav consistently promised to abolish the short-term military recruitment scheme if the INDIA bloc, including the Samajwadi Party, gains power. Yadav emphasized that the current scheme compromises national security and jeopardizes the future of soldiers, advocating for the reinstatement of the old recruitment model.
The Agnipath scheme, introduced by the Centre in 2022, recruits youths aged 17-and-a-half to 21 in the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a four-year contractual basis. These recruits, known as Agniveers, will have 25 per cent of each batch offered regular service after completing their tenure. The scheme has faced criticism for its short-term nature and its impact on military personnel’s futures. Despite this, the Uttar Pradesh government has pledged weightage for Agniveers returning from service in police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) recruitment.
