BJP Leader’s Agniveer Remark Draws Criticsm

NEW DELHI: The national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kailash Vijayvargiya brewed controversy on Sunday when he said he will recruit Agniveers as security guards for the BJP’s offices.

“When an Agniveer comes out of the service after four years he will have the tag of an Agniveer which he can proudly display. So, if I want to hire security for the BJP offices, I will give priority to Agniveer,” Vijayvargiya said in Indore.

His comments drew strong criticism not just from the opposition but from his party leaders as well.

BJP MLA Varun Gandhi took to Twitter saying, “The great Indian army whose valour is resonant in the whole world, an invitation to that Indian soldier to do ‘chowkidari’ of a political office, such offers should be kept to themselves.”

जिस महान सेना की वीर गाथाएँ कह सकने में समूचा शब्दकोश असमर्थ हो, जिनके पराक्रम का डंका समस्त विश्व में गुंजायमान हो, उस भारतीय सैनिक को किसी राजनीतिक दफ़्तर की ‘चौकीदारी’ करने का न्यौता, उसे देने वाले को ही मुबारक।

भारतीय सेना माँ भारती की सेवा का माध्यम है, महज एक ‘नौकरी’ नहीं। pic.twitter.com/Ehq0rwx0zV

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) June 19, 2022

Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister implored Vijayvargiya not to disrespect the country’s youth and military people.

देश के युवाओं और सेना के जवानों का इतना अपमान मत करो।

हमारे देश के युवा दिन-रात मेहनत करके फ़िज़िकल पास करते हैं, टेस्ट पास करते हैं, क्योंकि वो फ़ौज में जाकर पूरा जीवन देश की सेवा करना चाहते हैं, इसलिए नहीं कि वो BJP के दफ़्तर के बाहर गार्ड लगना चाहते हैं। https://t.co/PQ8B30FYHz

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 19, 2022

Taking a dig at ‘those who didn’t raise the tricolour for 52 years’, embattled former Congress president tweeted in Hindi, “Those who did not hoist the tricolour for 52 years after independence, they cannot be expected to respect our soldiers.”

जिन्होंने आज़ादी के 52 सालों तक तिरंगा नहीं फहराया, उनसे जवानों के सम्मान की उम्मीद नहीं की जा सकती।

युवा, सेना में भर्ती होने का जज़्बा, चौकीदार बन कर भाजपा कार्यालयों की रक्षा करने के लिए नहीं, देश की रक्षा के लिए रखते हैं।

प्रधानमंत्री की चुप्पी इस बेइज़्ज़ती पर मोहर है।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 19, 2022

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at Vijayvargiya and said is this what the BJP meant when it launched the Main Bhi Chowkidaar campaign before the 2019 general polls.

Now we know what the BJP really meant when they launched the campaign in 2019, ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’… pic.twitter.com/CE8pbcAfNg

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 19, 2022

Another party veteran KC Venugopal also took a jibe at the BJP leader and said finally someone from BJP clarified what this scheme means.

Finally somebody from the BJP clarified all doubts on Agnipath scheme.

Our Jawans are our pride. A true patriot will never insult them. pic.twitter.com/saYnWtgk3e

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 19, 2022

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra lashed out on Twitter after Vijayvargiya said that he would give priority to Agnipath recruits for security jobs at his BJP office.

BJP Nat’l Gen Secy:
“If I have to choose security guard for BJP office I will choose Agniveer.”

Yes, if India had to choose villain for Agnipath am sure they’d choose you too.

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 19, 2022