Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi Pays Tribute to the Fallen Heros, Slams the Opposition over Agnipath Scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition over the Agnipath Scheme, accusing them of spreading misinformation and weakening the army during his visit to the Kargil War Memorial in Drass to commemorate the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Friday. PM Modi defended the Agnipath Scheme, saying it aims to make soldiers "young and fighting fit" for war.

"They (Congress) did not want our defence forces to have the latest fighter planes. They are opposing the Agnipath Scheme which is aimed at making our soldiers young and fighting fit for war. They are saying that the Agniveer Scheme has been floated to save on pensions by Narendra Modi. They forget that a soldier recruited today will be eligible for a pension after 30 years and by then Modi would be 105. They want people to believe that Modi is such a fool that he will play mischief with the country's defence forces", said the Prime Minister. He paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the Kargil War and inaugurated the Shikun La tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

Opposition parties, including Congress, have raised concerns about the scheme, citing uncertainty over the future of soldiers after their four-year service. Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa demanded clarity on the post-service benefits for Agniveers, while Karti Chidambaram called for the scheme's scrapping, arguing it doesn't provide fully-trained soldiers.

"PM is saying that we are spreading confusion. He is speaking about what will happen after 30 years. He should talk about what will after 4 years to these Agniveers," said Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa stating that the Union government needs to clearly mention about what will happen to the soldiers after they retire from four years of service.

The Agnipath Scheme, launched in 2022, recruits soldiers for short-term services, aiming to reduce the age profile in the Armed Forces. However, it has raised concerns about benefits for Agniveers and their families, particularly in the event of death in the line of duty. A parliamentary panel has recommended equal benefits for Agniveers' families, and there have been demands for 'Hero' status for those who die in service.​