Rahul Gandhi cornered Rajnath Singh on Agniveer scheme, country, army and Ajay Singh’s family. However, now the Army has said that the family of Agniveer Ajay Singh has received assistance amounting to Rs 98 lakh.
There is a tug of war between the Central Government and Rahul Gandhi regarding the Agniveers being recruited under the new Agneepath scheme of the Army. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and MP from Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi once again alleged that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh lied in Parliament regarding the financial assistance provided to Agniveer’s family. He raised the issue of Punjab’s Agniveer Ajay Singh, who was killed in January this year, and said that Rajnath Singh should apologize to the Parliament, the country, the Army and Ajay Singh’s family.
ADG PI said that it is emphasized that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. He was given his last farewell with full military honours. Also said that Rs 98.39 lakh has already been paid to the family members of Agniveer Ajay.
*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
ADG PI said that as per the provisions of Agniveer Yojana, financial assistance and other benefits of about Rs 67 lakh will be paid after police verification. The total amount will be about Rs 1.65 crore. It has been emphasized in the statement that the financial assistance given to the families of the martyred soldiers, including Agniveer, should be paid as soon as possible.
In the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had also referred to the Agniveer scheme of the Central Government, he had said that I have met the family of Agniveer. The central government does not give martyr status to Agniveer. Agniveer is a use and throw labourer. There is fear in the minds of soldiers regarding this plan. Modi ji does not consider these soldiers as martyrs. On this, Rajnath Singh had refuted Rahul’s claims of Agneepath military recruitment scheme and said that the scheme was started after taking suggestions from 158 organizations.
The Congress leader on Monday had criticised the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment and said that the government does not even give them the status of a “shaheed” (martyr) and that no compensation is extended to their families if they are killed in action.
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.
What is Agniveer Scheme?
The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, 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 per cent of them for 15 more years. The government extended the upper age limit to 23 years later that year.
Under the scheme, men between 17.5 years to 21 years of age will get a chance for long and short-term service in the armed forces. Applicants need to meet the medical eligibility conditions laid down for enrolment in various categories of the armed forces, and must be educated up to the 10th or 12th standard.
Agniveers are not entitled to pension and emoluments but a lump-sum package on the completion of four years of service.
The ‘Agniveers’ — or recruits — will receive a monthly salary of ₹30,000 to ₹40,000, and 70 per cent of them who demobilise after four years will receive a ‘Seva Nidhi’ exit package worth ₹11.71 lakhs, half of which will come from their contributions.
Apart from the salary they will get Rs. 10, 04,000 “Seva Nidhi” package at the time of exit after four years. After successfully completing four years of service 25% of agniveers will get permanent service in the Indian Army based on organizational requirements.