JD(U) call for Agnipath review correct, scheme withdrawal long overdue: Sanjay Singh

New Delhi: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday said the JD(U)'s demand for review of Agnipath scheme is "100 per cent correct" and stressed that the scheme should have been withdrawn earlier. Earlier in the day, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi told reporters here that the party has demanded a review of the Agnipath scheme, and will "pursue" the caste census issue.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Singh said, "Agniveer is betrayal with Mother India and the Army. The prime minister should have withdrawn it earlier."

"Earlier a jawan was trained for a year but under this scheme (Agnipath), you reduced the training period to six months. Every youth is ready to sacrifice his or her life for the country. But you are weakening the army. This demand from JDU is 100 per cent correct," the AAP leader added.

In June 2022, the government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme for short-term induction of personnel with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three armed services.

The scheme provides for recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.