Lucknow: BJP's Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan launched a fierce attack on opposition leaders for their criticism of the Agnipath scheme. He accused them of attempting to "break the morale" of individuals committed to serving the country and claimed their only goal is to oppose the central government's initiatives.

In a statement to media, Ravi Kishan remarked, "This is the thought of strengthening the country. For 5 years, their politics has been that whatever PM Modi and the government do, they (opposition) only oppose it. How will these people take the country forward with a negative attitude towards everything?"

This criticism follows comments from Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram, who argued that the Agnipath scheme does not enhance the capabilities of the armed forces. Chidambaram contended that the scheme, which involves short-term enlistment without adequate training and benefits, does not address the long-term needs of a professional army. He responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's endorsement of the scheme, which Modi described as a "necessary reform in the Army."

Similarly, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad dismissed the scheme and vowed that the INDIA bloc, if it comes to power, would terminate it. Prasad condemned the scheme as an insult to the army, stating, "When the INDIA alliance government comes, we will end this scheme in 24 hours and do general recruitment."

The controversy coincides with the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, which commemorates India's victory in Operation Vijay in 1999. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial. Modi emphasized that the Agnipath scheme aims to modernize the Army and address concerns about the higher average age of Indian soldiers compared to the global average.

"The country has felt the need for major reforms in the defence sector for decades. The army has been demanding this for years, but unfortunately, it was not given enough importance earlier. The Agnipath scheme is also an example of the necessary reforms done in the Army," Modi said, criticizing opposition parties for "politicising sensitive issues related to national security."

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