Following the Lok Sabha election results, which left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 240 seats, 32 short of a majority, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], a key BJP ally, has called for a review of the Centre’s Agniveer scheme for defense recruitment. JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi highlighted voter dissatisfaction with the scheme, stating, “A section of voters has been upset over the Agniveer scheme. Our party wants those shortcomings questioned by the public to be discussed in detail and removed,” ANI reported.
Tyagi also addressed the party’s stance on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), emphasizing that JD(U) is not opposed to it. “As the party’s national president, the CM had written to the Law Commission chief about the UCC. We are not against it, but a solution should be found by talking to all stakeholders,” he said.
Furthermore, Tyagi reiterated JD(U)’s support for a caste-based census and demanded special status for Bihar. “No party in the country has said no to caste-based census. Bihar has shown the path. PM, too, didn’t oppose it in the all-party delegation. The caste-based census is the call of the hour. We will pursue it,” he stated.
Tyagi clarified that JD(U)’s support for the BJP is unconditional, but the demand for special status for Bihar remains significant for the party.
The opposition INDIA bloc, in its election promise, condemned the Agniveer scheme and vowed to scrap it if elected. Earlier this month, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to President Droupadi Murmu urging intervention in the Agnipath scheme to address “discrimination” in benefits provided to the families of deceased soldiers.
The Agnipath scheme recruits youngsters aged 17 and a half to 21 for a four-year term, with an option to retain 25 percent for an additional 15 years. The government, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has consistently backed the scheme, highlighting its attractiveness to youth and its potential to provide a long-term job in the armed forces.
General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, endorsed the scheme, emphasizing its role in nurturing a young and dynamic military profile and contributing to nation-building by cultivating skilled, disciplined, and motivated youth.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders convened with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, marking their first meeting since securing a Lok Sabha majority. The NDA leaders reaffirmed their confidence in Modi, electing him as the alliance’s leader and paving the way for his third consecutive term as prime minister.
With 12 MPs, JD(U) is the second biggest BJP ally after the Telugu Desam Party, which has 16 MPs. During the NDA meeting, Nitish Kumar urged Modi to expedite government formation, while TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu noted that winning three consecutive terms is a remarkable achievement.
