Army Releases ₹98 Lakh to Family of Deceased Agniveer
- Posted on July 4, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 132 Views
The Indian Army clarified that ₹98.39 lakh has been paid to the family of deceased Agniveer Ajay Kumar, countering Rahul Gandhi's claim of non-payment. The total compensation will reach ₹1.65 crore after final settlement, surpassing the initially stated ₹1 crore.
The Indian Army has come out with a clarification on compensation that was paid to the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar. This statement has been made in reaction to what Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the family had not received the compensation that was promised.
As per the statement uploaded by the Army on social media platforms late on Wednesday, the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar has been compensated ₹98. 39 lakh. The Army also said that further ex-gratia and other benefits aggregating to ₹ 67 lakh would be payable on account closing, thereby totalling about ₹ 1. 65 crore.
This clarification was given soon after Rahul Gandhi made a video message accusing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of giving false statement to the Parliament on the issue of compensation. Gandhi had alleged that the Agniveer’s family did not get ₹1 crore as they were promised.
This has arisen from a debate in the Lok Sabha where Gandhi condemned the Agnipath scheme, arguing it creates two types of soldiers with dissimilar wages. Disputing those statements, Defence Minister Singh said that in case any Agniveer dies in service, the families are paid ₹1 crore as compensation.
Agnipath scheme was introduced in the year 2022 wherein the personnel are to be inducted for a short period in the armed forces. The youngsters who are hired under this program are known as Agniveers.
The Army’s statement particularly stresses on the fact that the Kargil martyr’s last rites were conducted with a full military honours.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s Reaction to the Deleted Lok Sabha Speech
Amid the protests against the Agnipath scheme, this incident shows that there are similar concerns and discussions about the treatment of short-service soldiers in the Indian military.
