The Indian Army has moved to clarify the disbursement of compensation to the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, swiftly countering claims made by Rahul Gandhi. The issue emerged after the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, faced allegations of misleading Parliament regarding the compensation provided to Kumar’s family.
According to a late-night statement on Wednesday, the Army confirmed that a total of ₹98.39 lakh had already been paid to Kumar’s family following his tragic demise. This clarification comes amidst conflicting reports and social media speculation suggesting that the family had not received the promised compensation.
Agniveer Ajay Kumar lost his life in service, prompting assertions by political leaders like Rahul Gandhi that the Defence Minister had misrepresented facts about the financial support extended to Kumar’s kin. The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of the Agniveer scheme, which aims to recruit personnel for short-term service in the armed forces to rejuvenate the age profile of military personnel.
*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
The Army’s clarification, issued through official channels, emphasized that the remaining benefits, amounting to approximately ₹67 lakhs, were pending final settlement after due police verification. The total compensation package is expected to reach around ₹1.65 crore once all formalities are completed.
Rajnath Singh’s office reiterated the Army’s stance, affirming the government’s commitment to supporting the families of Agniveers who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. This development underscores ongoing debates over military welfare and the implementation of support schemes for personnel serving under the Agniveer initiative.
The controversy has sparked political debates, with Rahul Gandhi doubling down on his assertions and calling for accountability regarding the handling of benefits for military personnel under the Agniveer scheme. The Defence Minister, in response, defended the government’s position, emphasizing the substantial financial assistance provided to Agniveer families in line with established protocols.
As the discourse continues, the incident highlights the complexities surrounding military compensation and the scrutiny faced by government policies aimed at bolstering armed forces personnel through initiatives like Agniveer.
