A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Agniveer a scheme devised to “insult” India’s bravehearts, claiming no pension or other benefits are given to the families of Agniveers after their martyrdom, the Indian Army clarified that financial support is being offered to the family of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman who died in the line of duty.
Laxman died in the line of duty in Siachen, the highest militarised zone in the world.
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Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ADG PI said, “It is important to clarify that emoluments due to the Next of Kin are governed by the relevant terms & conditions of service of the soldier.”
Expressing support for the bereaved family of Laxman, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army), in a social media post said “it was important to clarify” the emoluments to the next of the kin “in view of conflicting messages on social media regarding financial assistance.”
In a statement, the Indian Army that the emoluments, as per the terms of engagement of Agniveers, include a non-contributory insurance sum of Rs 48 lakh, ex-gratia payment of Rs 44 lakh, Seva Nidhi contribution from Agniveer (30%) and a matching contribution by the government, along with accrued interest. It also comprises the soldier’s pay for the remaining tenure from the date of his demise until the completion of four years (more than Rs 13 Lakh, in the instant case).
It also includes an additional contribution of Rs 8 lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund and an “immediate financial assistance of Rs 30,000 from Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA)”, the Army said.
The statement came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Agniveer a scheme devised to “insult” India’s bravehearts, claiming no pension or other benefits are given to the families of Agniveers after their martyrdom. The charge has also been actively denied by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sharing a picture of Agniveer Laxman, Rahul Gandhi said the “news of his death in Siachen was saddening”.
“A young man was martyred for the country – no gratuity, no other military facilities for his service, and no pension to his family in martyrdom. Agniveer is a plan to insult the heroes of India,” he wrote on X.
BJP’S IT cell head Amit Malviya termed the charge “absolute trash and irresponsible.”
“Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman has laid down his life in the course of service and therefore is entitled to emoluments as a Battle Casualty. Accordingly, Laxman’s next of kin will receive the Rs 48 lakh non-contributory insurance, ex-gratia of Rs 44 lakh, Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30%), with an equal matching contribution by the Government, and interest thereon,” Malviya said on X.
“So, stop peddling FakeNews. You are aspiring to be Prime Minister. Try and behave like one,” Malviya said in his post.