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The JD(U) on Thursday added review of the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme to its list of expectations from the new NDA government, apart from four ministerial berths. The party may also push for its long-standing demand of special status for Bihar, now that it is set to be a part of the government at the Centre.
Asked about the JD(U)’s remarks regarding Agnipath, another NDA ally, Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), told NDTV in an interview: “Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has said the platform is open for discussions. I believe that we must discuss how much we could deliver through Agniveer, because this is something related to the youths of our country. A review must be done. But these things can be kept on hold… Government formation is happening and, after that, we can discuss these things.”
On Thursday, JD(U) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a series of meetings, including with his 12 newly elected MPs, at his residence on Kamraj Lane in Delhi. “There is anger among voters with regard to the Agnipath scheme. Our party wants that this scheme is discussed threadbare in the government to remove its flaws,” JD(U) national spokesperson K C Tyagi said after the meetings, while adding that the party’s support to the NDA was “unconditional”.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Tyagi said: “We have sought a review of the Agnipath scheme on the basis of what senior BJP leader and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during his poll campaign.” Rajnath Singh had said the government was “open to change in the Agnipath scheme if required”.
Patna was among the cities that saw protests against the Agnipath scheme, under which 75% of new recruits to the defence forces are eased off at the end of four years of service with monetary benefits.
In the Army, two batches of 40,000 Agniveers have already completed training and are under posting. The third batch of 20,000 began training in November 2023. In the Navy, three batches of 7,385 Agniveers have completed training. In the IAF, 4,955 Agniveer Vayu trainees have completed training.
On Bihar’s demand for special status, Tyagi said it was justified as after the carving out of Jharkhand, “Bihar was left with hardships and the problem of unemployment”, and that only granting it this tag could help it overcome them.
Asked about the BJP’s push for a contentious uniform civil code, Tyagi said: “We have said there should be wider consultation with all chief ministers and political parties to find a solution.”
Earlier, in an interview to The Indian Express, Tyagi had said while the party was in favour of introducing the “democratic elements” of a UCC, it expected the NDA government to be “sensitive” in addressing religious aspects of the proposed changes.
A senior JD(U) leader in Patna said: “We are not applying pressure tactics, but making our stand clear on certain matters. Apart from special category status and ministries, we also want assurance of stability of the NDA government in Bihar, headed by Nitish Kumar.”
On special status, a senior JD(U) leader said that the party realised it might not be possible, but that “a special financial package is needed for Bihar”. “We are going to polls in a year. We have to address certain issues in the state.”
In his interview with NDTV, Chirag was also asked about caste census, which has been supported by the JD(U) but the BJP is against; the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar had conducted a caste survey in the state. Chirag told NDTV: “I believe the government should have this data. I am not in favour of making it public because it increases the divide.”
The JD(U) leaders present at the meetings at Nitish’s residence included Tyagi, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, Lok Sabha MPs Lallan Singh and Alok Kumar Suman, apart from leaders such as Ashok Choudhary, Khiru Mahato, Ramnath Thakur, Afak Ahmed, Harshvardhan Singh, G M Sahin (the party’s J&K president), and general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan.
Suman said while the party leadership would spell out their demand, “we are hoping the JD(U) gets at least four ministerial berths”. As reported by The Indian Express on Thursday, the JD(U) may push for Railways and Transport, along with two minor ministries.
JD(U) MP Lallan Singh said the party’s Parliamentary Board meeting would happen on Friday morning. Noting that the Prime Minister holds the first right to decide ministerial berths, Singh added: “Special status for the state will be discussed with the government, it can’t be discussed in the media. We are with the NDA and will remain with the NDA.”
With 12 MPs, the JD(U) is crucial to government formation at the Centre as the BJP is short of the majority mark by 32 seats. The other partner the BJP needs to accommodate is the TDP, which with 16 seats will also demand its pound of flesh, including special status for Andhra Pradesh, as he needs funds to build his dream capital city in Amaravati.
Another NDA partner, Chirag Paswan of the LJP (Ramvilas), reiterated his party’s support for Modi on Thursday, praising the PM for his “leadership” ensuring a third straight term for the NDA.
