PM Modi in Drass, Kargil
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi/Srinagar: Weeks after there was renewed political agitation by Opposition parties over the contentious Agnipath scheme for short-term, bulk recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the programme’s purpose is to keep the army “young and fit for war” and “not to save the pension money.”
“I am surprised what has happened to the understanding of some people. What has happened to their thinking? They are spreading such a misconception that the government has brought this scheme to save pension money. I feel ashamed of the thinking of such people,” he said in Kargil after paying homage to martyred soldiers who had laid down their lives in service to their country during the 1999 Kargil War.
To commemorate the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas, Modi visited the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, where he spoke at length on the Agnipath controversy and a few other military issues. He also took the opportunity to take a fresh swipe at Pakistan.
“The aim of Agnipath is to make the army young and continuously fit for war. Unfortunately, some people have made such a sensitive issue, related to national security, a subject of politics. They are indulging in the politics of lies for their personal benefit,” he said.
Modi said discussions had been going on for years to lower the age of Indian soldiers but no decision was ever taken. "For decades, there have been discussions in Parliament and various committees on making the armed forces younger. The average age of Indian soldiers being higher than the global average has been a matter of concern," he said.
“The strength of the country will increase with the Agnipath Yojana and capable youth will come forward to serve the motherland,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi’s backing of the controversial scheme that 'retires' 75% of soldiers after four years, comes at a time when there have been demands to review the scheme even by some BJP allies, while the principal opposition party, Congress, has demanded the abolition of the scheme.
Without naming Congress, which ruled for ten years - between 2004 and 2014 - Modi said, “These are the same people who weakened our forces by committing scams worth thousands of crores in the forces. These are the same people who wanted the Indian Air Force to never get modern fighter jets. These are the same people who were prepared to box up the Tejas fighter plane.”
Accusing Pakistan of continuing with its 'proxy war' in region, the Prime Minister said, “Every time Pakistan attempted something nefarious, it has received a befitting reply in the past. Pakistan has failed in all its nefarious attempts in the past. But Pakistan has not learned anything from its history. It is trying to keep itself relevant with the help of terrorism and proxy war.”
“Today, I am speaking from a place where the masters of terror can hear my voice directly. I want to tell these patrons of terrorism that their nefarious intentions will never succeed. Our soldiers will crush terrorism with full force and the enemy will be given a befitting reply,” he said in the wake of a string of terror attacks in the Jammu region.
The Prime Minister virtually initiated the first blast of the Rs 1,681 crore Shinkun La Tunnel project, to construct a 4.1-km twin-tube tunnel at an altitude of 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road, ensuring all-weather connectivity to Leh.
Upon completion, it will be the highest tunnel in the world.
“Work is also going on for the 13 km long Zojila tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity on National Highway Number One as well,” he added.