NDA allies, Nitish Kumar's JDU and Chirag Paswan's LJP, call for review of Agnipath

JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi told the media that the party will seek a review of the scheme, under which 25 percent of the recruits will continue for 15 years while the rest will be released after 4 years.

Proposing a review of the scheme, Chiraj Paswan told NDTV, "Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has said the platform is open for discussions. I believe that we must deliver how much we could deliver through Agniveer, because this is something related to the youth of our country.

"A review must be done But these things can be kept on hold for a while, government formation is happening and after that, we can sit and discuss these things."

What is the Agnipath scheme?

The Government had launched Agnipath scheme on June 15, 2022 to recruit both male and female aspirants into 'below the officer’s rank' cadre of the three services for a period of four years as Agniveers.

Candidates between the age group of 17.5 to 21 years are eligible to apply for the scheme. These Agniveers would undergo optimised basic military training and specialised trade training followed by up-skilling courses, as required.

The scheme provides a unique opportunity for transforming the Yuva Shakti into Agniveers and facilitates potential youth to realise their dream of serving the Nation through the Armed Forces. Exposure through the Agnipath Scheme and fostered allegiance to Naam, Namak and Nishan, would shape Agniveers into Nation Builders.

There has been a whole of nation approach to empower the Agniveers with suitable Academic Qualifications & Skills, while serving in the Armed Forces, to help those Aginiveers who wish to start a second career option outside, with other Governmental organisations, Industry or even as Startup Entrepreneurs.

Why does JD(U), LJP's point of views matter?

BJP's supreme leader Narendra Modi was on Friday elected as the leader of the NDA, in one step closer for him to become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term.

However, unlike his previous two terms, Modi this time requires the support of his allies to form government as the BJP stopped at 240, 32 short of the majority mark (272).

The TDP (16 seats), JDU (12 seats), Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena (7 seats) and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (5 seats) have emerged as the kingmakers.