"Need to review Agniveer scheme" says Purnia MP Pappu Yadav

New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Backing the statement of JD (U) spokesperson KC Tyagi over the Agniveer scheme, independent MP from Purnia Lok Sabha seat Pappu Yadav said that the scheme should be abolished and there is a need to review the scheme.
"There is definitely a need for review. Agniveer should be abolished. This scheme is an insult to the youth. As far as UCC is concerned, you (BJP) should talk to your constituents," Yadav said.
He also called for TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JDU chief Nitish Kumar asking them not to support schemes like 'Agnipath'.
"I will tell Chandrababu and Nitish Kumar not to support any kind of step that spreads hatred in the society," Yadav said.
Earlier on Thursday, JDU senior leader KC Tyagi said that his party had offered unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA but wanted the shortcomings in the 'Agnipath' scheme to be discussed in detail.
"A section of voters has been upset over the Agniveer scheme. Our party wants those shortcomings which have been questioned by the public to be discussed in detail and removed," he said.
The Agnipath Scheme in the Indian Armed Forces is a scheme where selected candidates are enrolled as Agniveers for a four-year period. Based on organisational requirements and policies promulgated by the Armed Forces, Agniveers after completing their engagement period will be offered an opportunity to apply for enrolment in the permanent cadre. Of these upto 25% of Agniveers will be selected to be enrolled in the Armed Forces as a regular cadre.
Notably, in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the NDA partner Janata Dal-United (JDU) secured 12 seats out of 40 while BJP also won 12 seats in Bihar. On the other hand, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won four seats while Congress managed to clinch three seats.
As per an arrangement among the opposition parties within the INDIA bloc in the state, the RJD had put forward Bima Bharti, who had previously been associated with JD(U), as their candidate from Purnia, thus denying the Congress the opportunity to contest from that constituency.
In Purnia, Pappu Yadav secured victory by garnering 5,67,556 votes and defeated JDU's Santosh Kumar by a margin of 23,847 votes. Yadav also defeated RJD's Bima Bharti.
The BJP got 240 seats and NDA has secured 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. The Congress secured 99 seats. Samajwadi Party got 37 seats, while Trinamool Congress got 29. DMK managed to win 22 seats. (ANI)