BJP's reports pinpoint Agnipath as factor in LS setbacks across states, cadres want review of scheme

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New Delhi:Review meetings and feedback from state after state show that the controversial Agnipath scheme hit the BJPs poll fortunes, even as the party is busy in its social media campaign to defend the introduction of short-term extendable recruitment to the armed forces...

The Lok Sabha has seen a heated debate over the Agnipath scheme between Rahul Gandhi and Rajnath Singh, with the Defence Minister asking the Leader of the Opposition to not mislead the House by making wrong statements regarding the financial assistance to the next of kin of Agniveers killed in the line of duty...

On Sunday, while reviewing the Uttar Pradesh results, party organisational general secretary B.L.Santhosh was told by a party spokesperson that the scheme was to be blamed for the dismal performance in Uttar Pradesh and demanded its roll back, a BJP insider said...

In June, the BJP held a review meeting and the Agnipath scheme was cited as one of the reasons, besides infighting, the Dalit and Jat backlash, and a lack of synergy between government and party as well as that of a cohesive leadership...

Similarly, Haryana Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra told ThePrint that the scheme was brought to prepare young youths for army and instil patriotism, while giving short-term employment but going by the protests against it, the government should consider its review...