Coming out hard on the Centre over the Agniveer scheme, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that when the government creates a situation where soldiers can be trained for six months and serve for 3-4 years, it is diluting the quality of training and professional opportunities available to the Indian Army.

"The professional reputation of the Indian Army is extremely high around the world. It's considered one of the most professional armies in the world and maintaining that professionalism is in the interest of the entire nation. When you create a situation where soldiers can be trained for 6 months and serve for 3-4 years, you are diluting the quality of training and professional opportunities available to the Indian Army," Tharoor said.