No question of rollback, says NSA Ajit Doval on Agnipath scheme: Top points

New Delhi, June 21: Amid the violent protests taking place against Agnipath scheme, National Security Advisor has ruled out the rollback of the military recruitment scheme and said that the government's move was "not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight" but has been debated and discussed for over decades.

 

 

Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "There’s no question of a rollback. This (Agnipath scheme) is not a kneejerk reaction that has come overnight. This has been discussed and debated for decades… While everybody realised it was necessary, no one had the will or the ability to take the risk. It needed a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said if this is what will make India strong and secure then no risk is big enough, no cost is high enough."

 

"There is a need to look at it (The Agnipath Scheme) in a perspective. Agnipath is not a standalone scheme in itself. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, one of his prime priorities was how to make India secure and strong. That required many avenues, many steps - multitude of them," he said.

 

 

He also asserted that in the future we are heading towards a scenario where there will be contactless wars against invisible enemies and the country needs a young fit and agile army. "The whole war is undergoing a great change. We are going toward contactless wars and also going towards the war against the invisible enemy. Technology is taking over at a rapid pace. If we have to prepare for tomorrow, then we have to change."

 

Further, he also said there are "conflict entrepreneurs" with vested interests who are behind the protests over the scheme. "I will say there are two kinds of opposition. There are one group of people who are truly concerned, who have served the country. They only have the fear of the unknown. It is anxiety before any big change. People are now understanding gradually that it has been a long-term due. They are now finding it a good move," he said.

 

 

"But, there is another group. They do not care for the country or the security of the nation. They are conflict entrepreneurs. They want a conflict in society. These are the people who will go for stone-throwing, demonstrations, burning trains. They are with a vested interest. Whenever they have an opportunity they think they can mislead the people," he added.

 

NSA Doval said the youth who are serious about joining the Armed Forces do not get misguided. "A true Agniveer will not be influenced or misguided. They will prepare rather than do protests. The people who are doing all this, I do not think they are willing to join the Armed Forces or have a psychic mental set." he emphasised.

 

 

He said raising his voice is justified but vandalism will not be tolerated. "I think protest, raising voice is justified in a democracy. Violence and vandalism will not be tolerated. Reforms are required in various forms such as Police. Lessons should be learnt from the circumstances. Many FIRs have been lodged. People behind these will be identified," said Doval.

 

He also informed that the recruits of the special Agnipath military scheme will never constitute the whole army. "Agniveers will never constitute the whole army. Those Agniveers who become regulars eventually will undergo intensive training, acquire experience over a period of time," Doval said.