Retired defence personnel have occasionally expressed reservations about the plan to recruit people into the armed forces for a limited period of time. They have brought up issues including low retention (only 25% of the Agniveers will be incorporated into the permanent cadre) and a manpower deficit.
Concerning recent reports of Agniveers engaging in criminal activity, concerns are being raised about the prospects for recruits following their discharge from the military. Even some veterans have said that changes should not have been made to the tried-and-true recruitment process.In addition to the conflict inside the military community, Agnipath has grown to be a political sticking point.
Source: India.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only vigorously defended the programme in his speech on Kargil Vijay Diwas last week, but he also charged the opposition with meddling in the recruitment process. He refuted the notion that Agnipath was implemented to save pension funds, asserting that its goal was to make the armed forces younger and more physically fit.
A number of opposition parties, led by the Congress, have insisted that the plan be abandoned. Notably, the Janata Dal (United), one of the ruling BJP’s allies, has requested a thorough study of it.The lack of agreement will affect the military services’ readiness for conflict, thus the government cannot afford to let things slide.
Source: The Indian Express
Reserving or giving preference to former Agniveers for positions in uniformed services like the police has been announced in several BJP-ruled states. This might not be sufficient to quell the doubters, though. The Center needs to be open to the suggestions and work hard to fix the issues with the program.
The year-long protests that followed the adoption of the three Central farm laws—which were subsequently repealed—showed that having an unyielding mindset can backfire. Both the troops’ morale and the country’s security are at risk. Political posturing needs to be put on hold.
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