Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh Face Off In Lok Sabha Over Agnipath Scheme

New Delhi: 

The Agnipath scheme, bitterly criticised by the Opposition, was at the heart of heated debate between Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Rajnath Singh in the Lok Sabha today. The minister accused the Leader of the Opposition of disseminating misinformation and misleading the people on the matter and offered to discuss the issue in the House.

In his speech on the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Mr Gandhi had claimed that the Agnipath scheme has robbed the country’s soldiers and their families of financial security and respect, pointing to the absence of pension. He alleged that the scheme exposes the government’s “anti-youth and anti-farmer” leanings.

Mr Singh contended that Mr Gandhi had propagated several misconceptions about the Budget, which Finance Minister Sitharaman would clarify in her upcoming speech. Mr Gandhi, he added, was misleading the public regarding Agnipath, causing the Leader of the Opposition to dig in his heels.