LUCKNOW: BSP national president Mayawati on Monday compared the Agnipath scheme of the Centre with 'notebandi' (demonetisation) and 'talabandi' (lockdown). She said that the scheme has taken people by surprise much like the decisions of demonetisation and lockdown had. It is a decision taken in haste and is being forced on people.
This has led to furore among those who will be affected by the scheme, she said in a tweet, adding that the government should not adopt an egoistic attitude.
She also reacted against the comments made by some of the BJP leaders on the Agnipath scheme and said that the scheme is related to the security of the country and pride of the army men. "The leaders should immediately restrain from indulging in narrow-minded politics which is creating difficulties for the army and spreading confusion among people."
This was not the first time that the BSP chief voiced her opposition to the scheme. She had been tweeting against the scheme since it was announced on June 14 and has urged the Centre to reconsider the scheme given the nation wide protest against it. She has called the scheme anti-people.
"Though the Centre says the scheme is beneficial and lucrative, the youth in the country is not satisfied and is angry. They are opposing changes in the army recruitment system," she said.
Besides urging that the Centre should discuss such matters related to the security of the country in the Parliament, she said, "It is because of the restrictions on recruitments in railways, army and paramilitary forces that youth in the rural areas are feeling helpless and cheated. They see their future in the dark and that has created widespread anger."
The Agnipath scheme has further hit those who are finding it difficult to sustain poverty, unemployment, inflation and stress due to this, she said.
