Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh Clash Over Agnipath Scheme in Heated Lok Sabha Debate

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi clashed in the Lok Sabha on Monday over the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

The debate, centred on the 2024 Budget presentation, saw Gandhi criticising the program for allegedly depriving soldiers and their families of financial security.

Gandhi claimed the scheme, launched in 2022, exemplifies the government’s stance against youth and farmers. He highlighted the absence of pension benefits for Agniveers, the short-term recruits under the program.

Singh countered, accusing Gandhi of spreading misinformation. He offered to discuss the matter further in the House and stated that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would address Gandhi’s budget-related concerns in her upcoming speech.

This exchange echoes a similar incident from July 1, where Gandhi cited the case of an Agniveer who died in a landmine blast. He argued that such personnel are not recognized as martyrs and their families receive no pension or compensation.

Singh refuted these claims, asserting that families of Agniveers who die on duty receive ₹1 crore in financial assistance. However, the family of deceased Agniveer Ajay Kumar later stated they had received some compensation but demanded hero status and called for the scheme’s termination.

The Agnipath scheme, aimed at recruiting younger personnel for short-term military service, has faced opposition criticism since its inception. A parliamentary panel has recommended providing families of deceased Agniveers benefits equivalent to those of regular military personnel.