Agniveer Scheme: Sitharaman Defends Young, Battle-Ready Forces
By Rediff Money Desk, New Delhi Jul 31, 2024 17:18
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defends Agniveer scheme in Rajya Sabha, emphasizing its role in keeping India's armed forces young and battle-ready. She dismisses criticism and highlights the scheme's importance for national interest.
New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) Agniveer scheme will help keep armed forces battle-ready and young, and there is no need to do politics over it, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha.
Dismissing criticism over the scheme, the minister said recruiting young people in the age group of 17-21 years will ensure actually that India has fit soldiers who are on the front line.
"One of the expected outcome of the scheme is that armed forces will have a much younger force by recruiting those in the age group of 17-21 years," she said.
"And I don't think there is a need for us to unnecessarily worry that this is causing some kind of distortion. Not at all. It is with the acceptance of the armed forces that it has been brought in," Sitharaman said.
"Agniveer is a scheme which we brought in with great sense of commitment to keep our armed forces battle-ready and young and fit people get into the army," she added.
The minister was replying to remarks made by senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram during the general discussion on the Union Budget.
She emphasised that Agniveer scheme is very important and the country needs to have greater sense of looking at national interest.
Dismissing criticism over the scheme, the minister said recruiting young people in the age group of 17-21 years will ensure actually that India has fit soldiers who are on the front line.
"One of the expected outcome of the scheme is that armed forces will have a much younger force by recruiting those in the age group of 17-21 years," she said.
"And I don't think there is a need for us to unnecessarily worry that this is causing some kind of distortion. Not at all. It is with the acceptance of the armed forces that it has been brought in," Sitharaman said.
"Agniveer is a scheme which we brought in with great sense of commitment to keep our armed forces battle-ready and young and fit people get into the army," she added.
The minister was replying to remarks made by senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram during the general discussion on the Union Budget.
She emphasised that Agniveer scheme is very important and the country needs to have greater sense of looking at national interest.
Source: PTI
Read More On:
DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.
You May Like To Read
TODAY'S MOST TRADED COMPANIES
- Company Name
- Price
- Volume
- Srestha Finvest
- 0.89 (+ 4.71)
- 84074150
- Jaiprakash Power Ven
- 22.89 (+ 3.34)
- 47620916
- Spicejet Ltd.
- 65.25 ( -0.78)
- 27318841
- AvanceTechnologies
- 0.90 (+ 4.65)
- 26883863
- Vodafone Idea L
- 9.32 (+ 1.41)
- 26185410
MORE NEWS
Pakistan & Saudi Arabia Sign USD 2.2 Billion...
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed USD 2.2 billion investment deals in multiple...
Indian Student Becomes 'British High...
Delhi University student Nidhi Gautam experienced a day as the British High...
Samsung Workers Detained, Released: CITU...
Samsung India Electronics workers and CITU leaders were arrested and released after...