"Agnipath-a necessary reform in Army" says PM Modi, hits out at opposition for misleading youth

Kargil: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the Agnipath scheme during his address in Ladakh's Kargil on Friday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Highlighting the scheme, PM Modi said that the goal of Agnipath was to make the Army young and keep the Army continuously fit for war. He said that the major reforms in the army have been a long-standing demand.

"The country has felt the need for major reforms in the defence sector for decades. The army has been demanding this for years, but unfortunately, it was not given enough importance earlier. The Agnipath scheme is also an example of the necessary reforms done in the Army. For decades, discussions have been going on in Parliament and many committees on making the army young," PM Modi said during his address.

"Those who are misleading the youth of the country. Their history is proof that they don't care about soldiers. These are the same people who lied on OROP by showing a meagre amount of Rs 500 crore. It is our government that implemented the charges. More than Rs 1.25 lakh crore was given to ex-servicemen," the PM added.

PM Modi said that the average age of soldiers in India being higher than the global average was a concern raised over the years and Agnipath resolved the matter.

"The average age of Indian soldiers being more than the global average has been a cause of concern. That is why this issue has also been raised in many committees for years. However, the will to solve this challenge related to the security of the country was not shown earlier. The country has addressed this concern through the Agneepath scheme," he said.

"Some people used to think that the Army means saluting politicians, doing parades but for us, the Army means the faith of 140 crore countrymen. The goal of Agneepath is to make the army young. The goal of Agneepath is to keep the army continuously fit for war," PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister also criticised the opposition parties opposing the scheme for "politicising" a "sensitive issue related to national security."

"Unfortunately, some people have made such a sensitive issue related to national security a subject of politics. Some people are doing politics of lies for their benefit, even on this reform of the army. These are the same people who weakened our army by committing scams worth thousands of crores in the army, who wanted the Air Force to never get modern fighter jets, who had made preparations to scrap the Tejas fighter plane," PM Modi said.

PM Modi further emphasised the reforms made in the defence sector during the last 10 years and said, "In the last 10 years, we have made defence reforms a top priority in the defence sector. Due to these reforms, our armies are now more capable and becoming self-reliant!"

"Today, a significant share of defence procurement is being given to the Indian defence industry. Additionally, 25 per cent of the research and development budget in defence has been reserved for the private sector. As a result of these steps, India's defence production has now exceeded Rs. 1.25 lakh crore," he said.

Earlier, PM Modi virtually carried out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel project in Ladakh's Kargil.

The Shinkun La Tunnel Project consists of a 4.1-kilometre-long twin-tube tunnel that will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh, according to a PMO release. 

Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world. Shinkun La tunnel will not only ensure swift and efficient movement of our armed forces and equipment but also foster economic and social development in Ladakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in the 1999 Kargil War. The Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memoria in Drass, Ladakh, on the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999.

During this operation, Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.