Led by PCC president Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Working President PCC Raman Bhalla, the demonstration was held as per AICC instructions to launch a nationwide program against the Agnipath scheme.
The PCC office bearers, Councillors, senior Congress leaders and party members participated in what they called ‘Satyagraha’ to register their strong resentment. Similar protests were also held at various places across Jammu and Kashmir, including Bhaderwah, Jammu (Rural), Rajouri and other constituencies in J&K.
Lodging the party’s protest against the Agnipath Scheme, PCC President GA Mir termed it ‘disappointing and unjust’ for the youth who aspire to serve the nation by joining the elite and revered Army forces.
He alleged that the scheme is a complete and total sham, provides absolutely no benefits and will lead to a disintegration of the competence of the Indian Army.
He further stated that the party extends its complete support to the youth and stands behind them against this policy. ‘Across the nation, young Indians are expressing grave disappointment with this recruitment scheme and we second their voices and totally reject this decision taken by the government,’ said Mir.
The facts speak for themselves that the policy will be an utter failure on the ground. Indians who will join the army through this recruitment pathway will have no employment guarantee, and no safety net for themselves or their families, he added.
Mir said that the scheme has triggered unrest among the youth in the country and led them to the streets. ‘We support the demand of the youth for the immediate rollback of the scheme.”
The scheme proposes to recruit soldiers on a 4-year contract basis, at the end of which 75% of them will be released.
PCC Working President Raman Bhalla voiced his discontent with the BJP Government for launching the Agnipath scheme.
He said that the government should not be blind to the needs and necessities of the Indian youth and must take into account the concerns of the stakeholders before launching any policy or scheme.
The biggest stakeholders in the Agnipath scheme is the youth and if the youth has outright rejected it, the government must give in and rethink where it went wrong. As it is very clear, he said, there is no job security for the recruited members, as the majority of them will become unemployed by the end of the 4 year term.
UNI
