In a vehement accusation against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress Party has embarked on a nationwide campaign, “Jay Jawan: Anyay Ke Virudh Nyay Ka Yudh,” aimed at seeking justice for the multitude of youths allegedly affected by the Agnipath Scheme. During a press conference convened at the Congress Bhawan today, Dr. Shama Mohamad, the national spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee, shed light on the newly initiated campaign, spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on January 31, 2024.
Dr. Shama Mohamad asserted that the Modi government, through its Agnipath Scheme, had purportedly shattered the aspirations of approximately 5.1 lakh individuals who had undergone rigorous mental and physical examinations as part of regular armed forces recruitment. She underscored the Indian National Congress’s commitment to ensuring justice for these aggrieved youths through the “Jay Jawan” campaign. The campaign started in three phases from January 31 to March 20, encapsulates two primary demands. Firstly, it seeks the reinstatement of jobs allegedly revoked from around 1.5 lakh young men and women when the Agnipath Scheme was implemented between 2019 and 2022. Secondly, it advocates for the restoration of the previous recruitment system for the armed forces, as stated by Dr. Shama Mohamad.
Detailing the operational plan, Dr. Shama Mohamad outlined that the initial phase of the campaign, spanning from February 1 to February 28, will focus on reaching out to approximately 30 lakh families. Workers of the Indian National Congress will distribute “Nyay Patra” to defense families and encourage youth preparing for recruitment to join and support the movement. Moving into the second phase from March 5 to March 10, the campaign aims to raise awareness extensively. Finally, from March 17 to March 30, the third phase will see “Padayatra” covering up to 50 kilometers in all districts, as elaborated by Dr. Shama Mohamad. Furthermore, she stated that the campaign will serve to expose the purported manner in which the Agnipath Scheme has stifled the aspirations of numerous youths, bringing their plight to the forefront of public attention.