The Congress said Wednesday that it is “extremely concerned” about the reports that the Centre is planning to cut 1.5 Lakh jobs in the Indian Army. Seeking an answer from Modi on the issue, the party said such a move will have an impact on the national security.

Who is to blame?

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi cited media reports and alleged that the Centre wants to save ₹5000-₹7000 crore by doing away with 1.5 lakh Jobs in the Army. “Is it not true that Modi Government wants to reduce the manpower in the Indian Army by cutting down on its annual recruitment spread over a few years? If this is true, then isn’t the Modi Government guilty of destroying more jobs in the country? 1.5 Lakh families will be severely affected by this decision,” Singhvi told reporters.

He said the Centre is insensitive on the issue of unemployment and is displaying arrogance and abject apathy to the crores of underprivileged youth. “Instead of creating the promised two crore jobs per year, Modi Government is hell bent in destroying more jobs,” he said.

List of allegations

“If the Modi Government can spend ₹5000 crore in the last 4.5 years on publicity of the Prime Minister, then why can’t it spend that same amount for weaponry and ammunition for our Armed Forces,” he said. Singhvi claimed that Modi has spent ₹35 lakh on his fitness videos, ₹60 crore monthly on updating his pictures on petrol pumps, ₹1100 crore on BJP headquarters and ₹2000 crore on foreign travels. “Then why is the Modi Government not providing adequate funds to the Army?” he said.

The Congress MP said the Centre has earned a windfall of ₹11 lakh crore by levying Central taxe on Petrol-Diesel, but it is not ready to spend spend ₹5000-7000 crore on the Indian Army.

“Modi government squandered ₹41000 crore by overpaying in the Rafale purchase, but it cannot spend ₹7000cr on the Indian Army. Why?” he said.

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