The Army tweeted back after the opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family did not receive any compensation from the government.
The Indian Army tweeted that the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who died in the line of duty has been reimbursed with an amount of ₹ 98 lakhs.
Back Story
During an argument in the 18th Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the defence minister Rajnath Singh of misleading the parliament by lying that the compensation has been provided to the families of the departed Agniveer.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Defence Minister has lied about delivering the families of the Agniveer with financial assistance. He also emphasized the importance of truth in any religion, highlighting how Rajnath Singh had falsely claimed to provide financial support to the deceased’s family alongside a photo of Lord Shiva. Gandhi asked the people that as he had mentioned in his speech that they should not listen to him or Rajnath Singh but to the families of the deceased Agniveer.
He further shared a video with the father of the Agniveer Ajay Kumar from Jammu and Kashmir, where he claimed that they did not receive the compensation amount of ₹1 crore from the government as claimed by the defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Source: The Financial Express
Rajnath Singhs statement quoted how they are providing an amount of ₹1 crore to the martyrs’ families as compensation, but Ajay Kumar’s father has claimed it all to be false. He also mentioned that Rahul Gandhi is raising their voice in the parliament and fighting for the rights of the families of the deceased. He insisted that the Agniveer recruitment should be dismissed and regular recruitment should be recommenced.
Rahul Gandhi demanded an apology from Rajnath Singh, stating, ‘Rajnath Singh deceived the family of the martyred Ajay Kumar ji, as well as the army and the youth of our country. Which makes him responsible for apologizing to them.”
Rajnath Singh on the other hand denied all of the statements by Rahul Gandhi and said that he should not mislead anyone by providing them with such misinformation. He claimed that the compensation has already been provided to the respective families. He addressed how such false claim from him would lead to misleading the people of this country and create an environment of unrest throughout.
Source: The Economic Times
About the Agniveer Scheme
Source: The Times of India
Agnipath is an initiative sanctioned by the Government of India on 14th June 2022, which came into action in September 2022. This scheme assists with the selection of the soldiers below the rank of the authorized officers into the three services of the defense forces. Citizens from this country under the age of seven and half to twenty one years can apply in this scheme.
The cadets will be enlisted only for a period of four years. Cadets selected under this scheme are designated as Agniveers, introducing a new military rank.
This scheme will circumvent extended terms, pension and other additional perks which existed in the older system.
Statement from the Army
The Army took to their X handle and stated that some posts on the social media have mentioned that the family of the Agniveer Ajay Kumar has not received the compensation from the government is false. They mentioned an amount of ₹ 98.39 lakhs has been already paid to the family of the deceased.
They mentioned ex-gratia and additional perks approximately amounting up to ₹67 lakhs is applicable according to the Agnipath scheme. The complete amount will be approximately around ₹1.65 crores.
The army highlighted that the compensation is paid promptly to the families of the deceased soldier, encompassing the Agniveers. This statement from the military came shortly after the statement from the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
