On Tuesday (30th July), Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav entered into a heated argument inside the Lok Sabha over the Agniveer Scheme. During a Lok Sabha discussion on the Union Budget, Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of orchestrating tweets from key industrialists to promote the Agnipath scheme.
In response to Akhilesh Yadav’s comments on Agniveer scheme, BJP leader Anurag Thakur said, “I come from Himachal Pradesh, which gave the first Param Vir Chakra awardee Somnath Sharma, and had the highest number of martyrs in the Kargil War. Yes, I say that the long-standing demand for ‘One Rank One Pension’ was fulfilled by Narendra Modi’s government. And let me make it clear, Akhilesh ji, that the Agniveer scheme guarantees 100 per cent employment.”
"I am serving as a CAPTAIN in the 124th regiment of Territorial Army. Don't try to teach me"
— Sunanda Roy ? (@SaffronSunanda) July 30, 2024
~ Anurag Thakur replied Akhilesh Yadav with a banger ?pic.twitter.com/bWIn4IjwGJ https://t.co/lOjzhlQ2to
The Samajwadi Party leader Akhlesh Yadav then said if that was true and the initiative was so effective, why the government saw the need to offer a 10% quota for Agniveers in Uttar Pradesh and other states.
An enraged Anurag Thakur emphasised his active role in the territorial army to counter Yadav’s argument and said: “I am serving as a captain in the 124th regiment of the Territorial Army. Akhilesh ji, don’t just preach. Sitting with Rahul Gandhi has made you accustomed to spreading rumours and lies,” Thakur said.
