Controversy Erupts Over Agnipath Scheme Amidst Kargil Vijay Diwas Tributes

Opposition parties criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Agnipath scheme on Kargil Vijay Diwas, claiming it undermines national security and disrespects the armed forces. Congress leaders labeled the scheme a lie and called for its review. BJP MPs defended the initiative, emphasizing its focus on youth and patriotism.

Opposition parties launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, criticizing his remarks about the Agnipath scheme while he paid tribute to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas, demanding an immediate review of the controversial program.

Prime Minister Modi defended the Agnipath recruitment scheme as a necessary military reform, accusing the opposition of politicizing efforts aimed at reducing the average age of armed forces personnel. However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders condemned Modi for indulging in what they called 'petty politics' during a solemn occasion.

Many Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Karti Chidambaram, accused Modi of lying about the scheme's origins and labeled it damaging to national security and the aspirations of rural youth. Despite these criticisms, BJP MPs Ravi Kisan and Brijmohan Agrawal defended the scheme, comparing it to military practices in countries like Israel and China.