Defence minister Rajnath Singh launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of questioning the Indian Army’s 2016 surgical strikes and misleading the public about the Agniveer Yojana. Speaking at a rally in Kurukshetra ahead of Haryana’s October 5 assembly elections, Singh said the Congress party has repeatedly cast doubts on the military’s efforts and undermined national security.
During his speech, Singh highlighted the significance of the 2016 surgical strikes, which were carried out in response to the deadly terrorist attack on the Uri army base in Jammu and Kashmir. “When our jawans execute surgical strikes and airstrikes, Congress raises questions. They question the bravery of our soldiers. Our army has proven that India can retaliate against terrorism both on this side of the border and across it if necessary,” Singh said, underscoring the military’s capability and readiness.
His remarks come in the context of ongoing political sparring between the BJP and Congress, particularly regarding national security and the military. Singh stated Congress has continuously doubted the surgical strikes and airstrikes conducted by Indian forces, pointing out that such questioning damages the morale of soldiers. “Our army has demonstrated its ability to protect the nation, but the Congress consistently raises unnecessary doubts,” he added.
Rajnath Singh also took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for spreading false information about the Agniveer Yojana, the government’s military recruitment scheme aimed at bringing younger soldiers into the armed forces. Speaking at another rally in Pehowa, Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to “misguide the public” by claiming that the Agniveer scheme was detrimental to soldiers’ welfare.
“Rahul Gandhi is attempting to mislead the public. The Agniveer Yojana was introduced after much discussion and consideration, following the model of countries like Britain, the US, and Israel, which recruit young people for short-term military service,” Singh said.
Addressing rumours about the pay structure of Agniveers, Singh assured the crowd that soldiers under this scheme receive fair compensation. “It is untrue that Agniveers won’t be paid. They receive Rs 12 lakh under the Seva Nidhi package and are entitled to an ex-gratia amount of Rs 44 lakh. These claims by Congress are nothing but attempts to mislead the people,” he stated.
The defence minister criticized the Congress for making false promises during elections and failing to deliver. “Congress is known for making promises that they don’t fulfil. They mislead the public with tall claims but fail to act on them once in power,” he said. Singh referred to past instances where Congress made empty promises, urging voters to be wary of the opposition party’s tactics.
He further lambasted Congress for its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to their promise to reinstate Article 370, which was abrogated by the Modi government. “Congress and the National Conference are promising to bring back Article 370, but they forget that only the central government has the authority over this decision. Abrogating Article 370 was essential for the nation’s integrity, and Congress is misleading people by promising its return,” he clarified.
Singh took the opportunity to compare the financial achievements of the BJP government with those of Congress, highlighting the stark contrast in funding provided to Haryana. “When Congress was in power, they allocated Rs 21,564 crore to Haryana. Under BJP, this has increased to Rs 78,345 crore. This shows the BJP’s commitment to the state’s development,” he stated.
He also touched upon India’s growing global influence, citing the country’s leap to becoming the world’s fifth-largest economy. “In 2014, India was the 11th largest economy. Today, we are the fifth largest, and by 2027, we will be the third largest, behind only the US and China,” Singh said, noting India’s space achievements as well, including being the first nation to land on the Moon’s South Pole.
In a scathing reference to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra, Singh accused him of exploiting farmers during Congress rule. “It was their ‘damaad ji’ who took the land of farmers. BJP relatives had nothing to do with this,” he said, drawing attention to allegations of corruption during Congress’ time in power.
Singh ended his speech by emphasizing Haryana’s progress under the BJP, particularly in the sectors of IT, industry, and defense. He assured voters that the BJP would continue to focus on development and security, unlike Congress, which he accused of spreading lies and focusing on personal gains.
