Agnipath scheme will lead to militarisation of society: Cong

Naik also said that the BJP was making a big mistake and trying to weaken the nation’s military professionalism.

“The Agnipath scheme is a four-year package. For six months they will be imparted military training and for the remaining three and half years they are going to work. After four years these youth will be jobless. Around 30,000 youth will come out after four years and the society will turn into militarisation. This is a real threat. When they don’t get jobs they will be frustrated,” Naik said.

The Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, President was addressing the media after observing a peaceful satyagraha in protest against the Agnipath scheme at Gandhi circle, Mapusa.

Several Congress workers from various party frontals were present for the peaceful satyagraha.

Speaking further, Naik said that the BJP had had promised 2 crore jobs to unemployed youth during the 2017 parliamentary polls and since they could not provide the jobs they came with this new scheme without knowing its consequences.

She said after four years the youth will turn 24 or 27 years of age and will be rendered unemployed leading to desperation and frustration among these militarised youth.

“With this scheme they are trying to weaken the military professionalism. They are also trying to weaken the military culture. After four year the result will be the militarisation of society. This is very, very serious,” Naik opined.  

Youth Congress President, Varad Mardolkar said that the government may have brought the scheme to resolve the rising unemployment graph but cautioned that it will backfire badly.

“In fact, the unemployment rate will double after four years when the same youth come out. These Agniveers will be unemployed after four years. They won’t have jobs,” Mardolkar said.

He said this hire and fire policy of the government will cost the country dearly.

Senior Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar and others also spoke.