Rahul Gandhi a loose cannon: BJP on his Agniveer remark

Bengaluru, July 13: Slamming Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his Agniveer remark, the Karnataka BJP on Saturday said that the Congress leader was a “loose cannon, shooting randomly and making irrelevant statements”.

Addressing media persons at BJP headquarters in Bengaluru, Shivalingayya, a member of the BJP State Committee for Ex-Servicemen, said, “Rahul Gandhi has stated that Agniveers are being used like tissue paper. However, after World War II, when Nehru was the Prime Minister, the strength of our Army, which had 20 lakh soldiers, was reduced to 4 lakh. The consequence of this was seen in the 1962 war when China encroached on our land.”

“Rahul Gandhi is like a loose cannon, shooting randomly and making irrelevant statements,” he said.

“Rahul Gandhi has irrationally criticised the Agnipath scheme. He said Agniveers are being used like tissue papers and thrown away after service. But it is not true. If they are martyred in service, their families receive Rs 1.1 crore as compensation.

“One of the martyrs has already received Rs 1 crore, and the other has received Rs 1.65 crore (including Rs 65 lakh state compensation). Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh provide higher state compensation”.