A seven member Congress delegation that included two CMs met president and submitted two memorandums demanding withdrawal of Agneepath Scheme n parliamentary probe against DP

A seven member delegation of senior Congress leaders, MPs which also included two chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Chattisgarh today met the president of India Ram Nath Kovind and presented him a two memorandums to register their protest against the vicious and unprovoked attack unleased by Delhi Police on Congress MPs demanding a parliamentary probe and against the introduction of the Defence Forces Recruitment Scheme urging to revoke it with immediate effect.

The seven member delegation comprising of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Singh Baghel, MPs Mr. Chidambaram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, K. C. Venugopal, n Mr. Pratappan deliberated on these issues with President Kovind and handed him a memorandum. The leaders holding a banner opposing the Agnipath Scheme in favour of the youth with Indian National Congress written on, it marched to the President house.

The memorandum addressed to the President said that the government has announced a controvertial scheme called Agnipath to recruit 46000 soldiers to the three defence Forces which has led to immense distress among the youth and deep disquiet among serving and retired defence personel.

After detailed study and analysis of the scheme by retired defence officers, security analysts and affected youth we have arrived at the conclusion that the scheme carries multiple risks, subverts the long standing traditions and ethos of Armed Forces including provides no guarantee that the soldiers recruited under the scheme would be suitably n better trained n motivated to defend the country said the memorandum. Hence we have five point objections to the scheme as below. The memorandum is self explanatory.

The memo mentioned : the delegation have strong objections that the govt didn’t held any wide ranging consultations nor discussed it with the parliamentary standing Committee on defence including stakeholders n political parties. It further added that the 6 months training and 42 months duration may have negative consequences on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Armed Forces. It further added that the age of recruitment from 17.5 to 21 years is untenable.

They have objection on the slated objective of savings that does no give any guarantee for pensions etc. The memorandum adds that several distinguished defence officers have pointed out that a fighting soldier must take pride in his unit, must be willing to lay down his life for his country n comrades, must not be risk averse and must be capable of exhibiting leadership. But it is feared that each one of these objectives will be in jeopardy in this scheme. The memorandum blames the government for announcing 10% jobs for the recruits after four year in various public sector undertakings as an after thought and sign of adhocism. The leaders demand withdrawal of the Agneepath scheme but at the same time urge the president that the government should hold wide consultations in Parliament, Parliamentary committees and outside with all stake holders and address the issues of quality, efficiency and economy without compromising on the welfare of the Armed forces.

Prior to meeting the president, the Satyagrah of Congress continued for the second day at Jantar Mantar with the two CMs, Mallikarjun Kharge, several Congress MPs and leaders staging their vociferous protest for the whole day.

Meanwhile the Congress MP RS n former union minister Jairam Ramesh in a tweet wrote : A 7 member delegation of INC lef by @LopIndia including 2 CMs met Hon’ble President to submit 2 memoranda : Urge government to withdraw Agnipath scheme, hold wide consultations n address issues of quality, efficiency n economy, without compromising on welfare of Armed forces. In another memorandum the delegation registered it’s strongest protest against the vicious and unprovoked attack unleashed on Congress MPs by Delhi Police which comes under the direct purview of Union home ministry and ensure a time bound enquiry by the privileges committee on the breach of privilege tweeted Jairam Ramesh.

In another development today the self syled religious guru and Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnan, also known as Kalki Pithdishwarji Maharaj who was to come to Jantar Mantar to participate in the party’s Satyagraha against Agnipath was allegedly stopped by the police at his Rajendra Nagar house in Ghaziabad.

In Delhi the Youth Congress activists led by its national president Sriniwas B V staged a protest and stopped a train at Minto Road Shivaji Park railway lines holding the train for some time with police arresting several IYC activists.