Family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid ₹98.39 lakh: Army issues ‘clarification’ after Rahul Gandhi’s post

Singh, while intervening when Gandhi was speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Lok Sabha, had said on Monday, 1 July, that an Agniveer who lays down his life in the line of duty gets a compensation of ₹1 crore.

The minister’s rebuttal had come after Gandhi criticised the Agnipath scheme, saying the government does not even give Agniveers the status of a “shaheed” (martyr) and that no compensation is extended to their families if they are killed in action.

Also Read: INDIA bloc parties walk out as PM says ‘people rejected propaganda, voted for performance’ in Rajya Sabha

Army responds

In a post on ‘X’, the additional directorate general of public information of the Army said on Wednesday that the Indian Army “salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar” and emphasised that the emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the next of kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers.

“Certain posts on the social media have brought out that compensation hasn’t been paid to the next of kin of Agniveer Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty,” it wrote.

“It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. The last rites were carried out with full military honours. Of the total amount due, family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid ₹98.39 lakhs,” the Army said in the post.

“Ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately ₹67 lakhs, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid on Final Account Settlement shortly post due Police verification.

“The total amount will be ₹1.65 cr approximately. It is re-emphasised that emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the next of kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers. #IndianArmy,” it added.

*CLARIFICATION ON EMOLUMENTS TO AGNIVEER AJAY KUMAR*

Certain posts on Social Media have brought out that compensation hasn’t been paid to the Next of Kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty.

It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme… pic.twitter.com/yMl9QhIbGM

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 3, 2024

‘Committed for the welfare of Agniveers’ 

The Office of Raksha Mantri later posted on X, “Indian Army is committed for the welfare of Agniveers!” and shared the ADGPI’s post.

According to officials, the total amount to be eventually paid, includes ₹48 lakh as insurance from the government of India; ₹50 lakh as insurance from financial institutions under an MoU; ₹ 39,000 additional sum, and all of these have been paid in case of Agniveer Ajay.

It also includes ex gratia amount of ₹44 lakh; Army welfare fund of ₹8 lakh. Balance of pay till completion of his tenure stands at ₹13 lakh (approximately) and Seva Nidhi ₹2.3 lakh . A total of ₹67.3 lakh will be paid after due process, they said.

The Agnipath scheme, announced on 14 June 2022, provides for the recruitment of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for only four years, with a provision to retain 25 percent of them for 15 more years. The government extended the upper age limit to 23 years later that year.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi writes to LS Speaker seeking restoration of expunged remarks

Rahul Gandhi refutes

In his video message on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said that he had stated in his speech in Parliament that the protection of truth is the basis of every religion.

“In reply, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, before Lord Shiva’s photo, lied to the country, its armed forces and Agniveers about compensation,” Gandhi said.

He referred to the purported statement by Ajay’s father that Rajnath Singh made the statement that families of martyrs have been given ₹1 crore compensation but no such assistance had been received by his family.

Gandhi said the defence minister had “lied” to the family of martyr Ajay, the armed forces and the youth of the country, and must apologise to them.

सत्य की रक्षा हर धर्म का आधार है!

लेकिन रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने शहीद अग्निवीर के परिवार को सहायता मिलने के बारे में संसद में झूठ बोला।

उनके झूठ पर शहीद अग्निवीर अजय सिंह के पिता जी ने खुद सच्चाई बताई है।

सुनिए 👇pic.twitter.com/Es8rR2j78r

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 3, 2024

Defence minister’s response 

The Union minister had asked Gandhi not to mislead Parliament and also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge the former Congress president’s claims on the Agnipath scheme.

Intervening, the defence minister had said, “I would like to humbly request the leader of the opposition not to try to mislead Parliament. Regarding the Agniveer scheme, direct communication was established with many people, 158 organisations, their suggestions were taken, then this Agniveer scheme was brought. This scheme has been brought after a lot of thought.”

After Singh’s rebuttal, Gandhi had said, “Rajnath Singh has an opinion and I have an opinion but Agniveers know the truth. Agniveers know what they have to face.”

Sharing Rahul Gandhi’s video, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said when he raised the issue of Agniveer from the opposition side, the BJP government “lied” in Parliament.

“The BJP is insulting the sacrifice of the families who gave up their sons for the country by telling lies. Is this the nationalism of BJP? The prime minister should apologise to the public for lying to the country and insulting the martyrs,” she said in a post in Hindi on X.

विपक्ष की तरफ से राहुल गांधी जी ने अग्निवीर का मुद्दा उठाया तो भाजपा सरकार ने संसद में झूठ बोला। जिन परिवारों ने अपने बेटों को देश पर कुर्बान कर दिया, भाजपा झूठ बोलकर उनके बलिदान और शहादत का अपमान कर रही है। क्या यही है भाजपा का राष्ट्रवाद?

प्रधानमंत्री को देश से झूठ बोलने और… pic.twitter.com/2zpxdEXX0w

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 3, 2024

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