Congress MP from Jorhat Gaurav Gogoi has criticised the Centre’s Agnipath recruitment scheme, questioning the reported two-year service extension for Agniveers and its possible impact on military morale, cohesion and recruitment.
In a post on X, Gogoi said the scheme was introduced in 2022 despite opposition from the Congress, military veterans, former service chiefs and defence experts. He claimed that the Opposition had repeatedly raised concerns over its sustainability and urged the government to reconsider it.
Describing the reported extension as a government “backtrack”, Gogoi questioned its timing ahead of Assembly elections in several states. He also expressed concern that having three categories of personnel within the same units could affect the armed forces’ command structure and cohesion.
The Congress MP sought clarity on the future of Agniveers who are not selected after the extended service period or choose not to continue. He questioned whether they would receive employment guarantees and whether their ex-servicemen status after six years of service would be clearly defined.
Gogoi also asked whether extending the tenure of existing Agniveers would reduce vacancies for fresh recruits.
He urged the government to address concerns over job security and financial uncertainty among Agniveers, warning that differences in service categories within the same units could have implications for military morale and cohesion.
