PM Modi Highlights Agnipath Scheme on 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accentuated the significance of the Agnipath scheme while addressing the nation on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He emphasized its role in rejuvenating the army and denounced the opposition for politicizing national security issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the Agnipath scheme during his address in Ladakh's Kargil on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Modi highlighted the scheme's goal of rejuvenating and keeping the Indian Army fit for combat, stressing that major army reforms had been long overdue.

'The country has felt the need for major reforms in the defence sector for decades,' Modi remarked, mentioning that past governments overlooked these demands. 'Our government implemented significant changes; over Rs 1.25 lakh crore was allotted to ex-servicemen,' he added, criticizing those who misled the youth and downplayed the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme.

Addressing concerns about the higher average age of Indian soldiers compared to the global norm, Modi stated that Agnipath seeks to address this issue. He censured opposition parties for politicizing national security matters, recalling numerous defence scams. Modi highlighted recent strides in defence reforms, including prioritizing domestic defence procurement and the development of the Shinkun La Tunnel in Ladakh, pivotal for strategic mobility and regional development.

On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Modi paid homage to the martyrs of the 1999 Kargil War, laying a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial. This day commemorates the triumph of Operation Vijay, wherein Indian forces reclaimed territory infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers.