“Agniveer Scheme Is an Assault on Soldiers’ Dignity and National Security: Col. Rohit Chaudhary”

Congress Intensifies Attack on Agnipath Scheme; Col. Rohit Chaudhary Questions Impact on Soldiers and National Security

NATIONAL, 07 NOVEMBER, 2026 | GPN: The Congress party has stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, alleging that the Agniveer model has created uncertainty among aspiring soldiers and raised serious questions about the future of India’s armed forces. Addressing a press briefing at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi, Col. (Retd.) Rohit Chaudhary, Chairman of the AICC Ex-Servicemen Department, criticised the scheme, describing it as detrimental to the interests of young recruits and the long-term security of soldiers. The Congress reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme and restoration of the traditional regular recruitment system in the armed forces.

“The Modi government imposed the Agniveer scheme on our armed forces despite the three Service Chiefs having stated that they had not recommended it. This scheme has weakened our country’s security. The Army is facing a shortage of over two lakh soldiers, while the dreams of 1.5 lakh young candidates who had cleared recruitment in the Army and Air Force were shattered. The Agniveer scheme is against national security. We demand its complete withdrawal and the restoration of regular recruitment into the armed forces.”— Col. (Retd.) Rohit Chaudhary, Chairman, AICC Ex-Servicemen Department, AICC Press Briefing, New Delhi, November 6, 2026.

While speaking to the reporters here, Subedar TM Suryavanshi (Retd) Chairman Ex-servicemen Department of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee lamented BJP government over its introduction and handling of of Agniveer concept in the Armed Forces. The misconceived Agniveer policy to recruit soldiers in the forces for a period of only 4 years has been introduced since 2022. Agniveers are recruited in the forces and after 4 years only 25% are given permanent job, while 75 % will be sent out of the forces.

The Ex-servicemen Department of Congress party and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi have been velmementl opposing Agniveer scheme since it’s introduction. Congress party has always maintained that there should not be any disparity among and Agni Veer and regular soldiers.

Now the central government has taken U turn and they have given two years extension of service to current Agniveer lot which would have been out of services from December 2026. Subedar TM Suryavanshi said that at the very outset of the scheme he and the Congress had opposed the scheme through press conferences and agitations of Ex-servicemen. The AgniVeer scheme was neither studied or tested nor was demanded by Defence forces.

Now the Central Government has come up with 2 years extension keeping eye on the upcoming coming elections in the states next year especially Punjab, Utter Pradesh and Rajasthan. Because there is large resentment amongst young people against the about AgniVeer scheme