Cong. Leaders Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Slam PM Modi Over Agnipath Row

Mr. Gandhi cited schemes like-GST, note ban, farm laws and now Agnipath

New Delhi: Ahead of the Agnipath Scheme protest prevailing in most parts of the country, the former Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand what the people of the country want as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his "friends".

Cong. leader Rahul said this a day after the government raised the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment under 'Agnipath', amid protests by youth in several parts of the country against the scheme.

Moreover, Mr Gandhi cited schemes such as GST, note ban, farm laws and now Agnipath, saying they were projected to be for the welfare of the people but were rejected by the citizens.

"Agnipath - youth rejected. Farm laws - farmers rejected. Note ban - economists rejected. GST - traders rejected.

While taking up Twitter, Mr Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, "The prime minister does not understand what the people of the country want, as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his 'friends."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, urged the prime minister to withdraw the scheme as the youth are opposing it with protests.

She said that the BJP government had to change the rules of the new army recruitment scheme within 24 hours.

"This means that the plan has been imposed on the youth in a hurry," she said.

"Narendra Modi Ji, please withdraw the scheme immediately," she said in a tweet in Hindi and urged him to recruit people in the air force, which has been held back.

"Make the army recruitment the same as before by giving relief in the age limit," she said.