Former Chief Minister of Punjab and a veteran of Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars, Capt Amarinder Singh Suggested to review the ‘Agneepath’ policy of recruitment in Defense Forces on Thursday. “This will undermine the long-standing distinctive ethos of the regiments,” Captain Amarinder Singh said in a statement on Thursday. “Four years of service is too little for a soldier”, he said.
He wondered why the Indian government needed to make such a radical change in the recruitment policy, which has been working so well for the country since so many years. “Hiring soldiers for four years, with three years of effective service, is not a good idea militarily”, he said.
He said that different regiments like Sikh Regiment, Dogra Regiment, Madras Regiment etc. have their own distinct ethos which is very important.
important from a military point of view and which has been overlooked.
The former CM, who is also an eminent military historian, said that it would be very difficult for the recruits of different cultural backgrounds to adjust to the culturally different environment which is typical for a particular regiment and that too within such a short span of time. Effectively comes to less than three years.
Captain Amarinder Singh said that the short tenure system of seven and five years is already fine, but the four years, which once the training and leave period are taken out, are effectively reduced to three years. Yes, will not work. “It would never be doable for a professional military, which has to face tough challenges in both the eastern and western theatres,” he said.