Patna, Feb 24: Bihar Cooperative Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Surendra Prasad Yadav courted controversy after he questioned the Centre's Agnipath scheme, saying "eight-and-a-half years later, the country will have an army of eunuchs". While Yadav's own party distanced from his statement, the BJP said it reflects his "mental imbalance".

 

 

 

Talking to the media about the Indian Army and Agnipath scheme, introduced by the Centre last year, in Bihar's Katihar, Surendra Prasad Yadav said that a large number of people from Bihar's Katihar and Puniya join the Army. "Even people from other nations, such as Nepal, are part of the Indian Army and form Gurkha units. However, the people of Gujarat do not want to join the Army and protect the nation," said the Bihar minister. The Bihar minister also launched a scathing attack on the Centre's Agnipath scheme, which is a short-term recruitment policy for Indian youth to serve in the armed forces. "Exactly after eight-and-a-half years from now, the country will have an army of eunuchs. All the old people who are currently serving in the Army will retire. The youths who are being recruited as Agniveers for a period of four-and-a-half years, their training will not be complete. They will retire after four-and-a-half years of serving the Army and no family would marry their daughters to these unemployed youths," said Yadav.

 

 

 

"I want to know from the Prime Minister what steps will be taken for these youths, who will be recruited as Agniveers, once they complete their four-year term in the armed forces," he said. "We have such an excellent Army... There is no such nation that wants to fight with our Army. We have such a strong Army. What kind of an army force will be formed in four-and-a-half years?" asked Yadav. "The Agniveer scheme is absolute trash. Whoever has introduced this policy should be hanged," said the cooperative minister. Last year, the Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme, as part of which people aged between 17.5 and 21 will be inducted into any of the three services as “Agniveers” for a period of four years. The soldiers recruited under Agnipath will be released from service after four years, though the new system will have a provision for retaining around 25 percent of them after another round of screening. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had hailed the Agnipath recruitment scheme as a “transformative initiative” that would open up opportunities for the nation’s youth. He said the Agnipath scheme would strengthen India's security while also providing a youthful profile to the Armed Forces. The Rashtriya Janata Dal has distanced itself from Surendra Yadav's controversial comment. RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav said that the party does not endorse the controversial statements made by Yadav. "The Indian Army is the pride of the nation and we salute the Army." The Janata Dal-United, with whom the RJD is in an alliance in Bihar, has also condemned Yadav for his remarks about the Army. JDU spokesperson Abhishek Jha said, "It is not morally right to raise questions about the Indian Army. Even we had protested against the Agnipath scheme but in a democratic manner."

 

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"It is important to keep a watch on one's tone even while protesting against a scheme. The words used by minister Yadav for the Indian Army are not justified. It becomes imperative for a person occupying an important post to keep a check on their language so as not to hurt the sentiments of the armed forces," said the JDU spokesperson. Responding to Yadav's remarks on the Army, BJP MLA Neeraj Bablu said that only a derailed mind can make such statements about the Army. "The mindset of the people in the RJD has gone for a toss that's why they are making such controversial statements...while the whole world recognizes the force of our Army, to make such statements about the Army reflects one's mental imbalance," said Bablu. "The RJD is filled with rapists and murderers, so they are giving such controversial statements as per their background," said the BJP MLA.