Amritsar: Indian Punjab Assembly passed a resolution against the Union government’s “Agnipath Defence Recruitment Scheme.” The resolution was moved in the House by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who said that he will soon raise the issue of ‘Agnipath Scheme’ with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.
Punjab is the only state to have passed a resolution against the scheme in its state assembly. Vehemently opposing the ‘Agnipath Scheme’, Mann said this scheme was against the country’s youth. Leader of Opposition and Congress legislator Partap Singh Bajwa also demanded that the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ should be withdrawn. Akali MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali supported the resolution and demanded the scheme’s roll back.
The resolution reads, “The unilateral announcement of the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ by the Government of India has witnessed widespread reaction in all states, including Punjab. The scheme also has the propensity to weaken the long-standing esprit de corps of the armed forces.
Through this resolution, the House recommends to the state government to take up the matter with the Centre so that the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ is rolled back immediately”. “The Punjab Vidhan Sabha strongly feels that the scheme where youth will be employed only for a period of four years and only up to 25% will be retained, is neither in the best interests of national security nor of the youth of this country.” Chief Minister said, “This policy is likely to create dissatisfaction among the youth who wish to serve the armed forces of the nation for a lifetime.
The youth of Punjab consider serving in the Indian Armed Forces as a matter of pride and honour and are renowned for their valour and courage. This scheme has crushed the dreams of youth of Punjab who have been aspiring to join the Armed Forces as regular soldiers. Web Desk
