Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of misleading Parliament about compensation to families of deceased Agniveers.
On 1 July 2024, Gandhi attacked the government, claiming that Agniveers were not granted the status of martyrs and were akin to “use and throw” labour. In response, Singh maintained that if an Agniveer dies in war or at the border, their family receives ₹1 crore.
Gandhi released a video on 3 July 2024 featuring the father of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who was killed in a landmine explosion in Naushera, Jammu & Kashmir, in January. The father claimed that the family had not received any compensation or help from the Centre, despite Singh’s assertion that families of martyred Agniveers receive ₹1 crore in compensation. The father stated that while they had received some assistance from the Punjab government, nothing had been provided by the central government.
In the video, Gandhi demanded an apology from Singh, saying, “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied in Parliament about the assistance given to the family of the martyred Agniveer. Martyr Agniveer Ajay’s father has himself told the truth and exposed their lies. The Defence Minister should apologise to the Parliament, the country, the army, and the family of the martyr.”
#Breaking: Rahul Gandhi Ji has asked Defence Minister to apologise to the people of India, the family members of a Agniveer for lying in the Parliament and in front of Lord Shiva.
He has released a video message seeking Rajnath Singh’s apology. pic.twitter.com/G35LPYRpLH
— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) July 3, 2024
Army’s Rebuttal
Hours after Gandhi’s statement, the Indian Army issued a clarification on social media, asserting that compensation had been paid to Kumar’s family. “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, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid ₹98.39 lakhs. 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.”
*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 reiterated that emoluments due to fallen soldiers, including Agniveers, are paid expeditiously to their next of kin.
Terms Of Agnipath Scheme
The terms of the Agnipath Scheme clearly state that if an Agniveer soldier becomes a battle casualty, his next of kin would receive:
- Non-Contributory Insurance sum, amounting to ₹48 Lakh
- Ex-gratia of ₹44 Lakh
- Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30%), with an equal matching contribution by the Govt, and interest thereon
- Pay of balance tenure from date of death, till completion of four years (more than ₹13 Lakh, in the case of Laxman
- Contribution of ₹8 Lakh from Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund
- Immediate financial assistance of ₹30 thousand from the Army Wives Welfare Association
Defence Minister’s Rebuttal
Defence Minister Singh refuted Gandhi’s claims in Lok Sabha, stating that the Agnipath scheme was introduced after consultations with 158 organizations and that it provides due compensation to the families of martyred Agniveers. He urged Gandhi not to mislead Parliament and requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge Gandhi’s remarks on the scheme. Singh also noted that similar recruitment schemes exist in countries like the US and the UK without objections.
This is not the first time that Rahul Gandhi is lying about the Armed Forces. Here are 10 other instances where he and the Congress insulted the Indian Armed Forces.
About Agnipath
Rahul Gandhi had parroted the claims made by the banned terror outfit PFI about the Agnipath Scheme saying that it will create unemployed youths trained in guns, which is similar to what the PFI said – that the scheme is a ploy to train Hindu youths in weapons to attack Muslims.
— iMac_too (@iMac_too) February 10, 2023
On OROP
He also tried to create divisions between officers and jawans (soldiers) regarding the ‘One Rank One Pension‘ (OROP) scheme stating officers were receiving greater financial benefits from the OROP scheme compared to the jawans, who constitute the majority of the armed forces and were supposedly receiving a lower amount.
Lied About Chinese Troops “Thrashing” Indian Army At LAC
On 16 December 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Chinese troops are thrashing Indian army soldiers along the line of actual control (LAC).
Whole country has seen visuals of Indian soldiers thrashing Chinese soldiers.
But as always, for political mileage, Rahul Gandhi will cook up imaginary stories & question the valour of our jawans.
Do you realise @RahulGandhi how demotivating your words are for the Indian Army?? pic.twitter.com/6kP8DBWnLt
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) December 16, 2022
Rahul Gandhi’s comments came a week after clashes broke out between the Indian and Chinese troops on 9 December 2022, in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. However, the truth was that Indian Army soldiers not only thrashed the Chinese troops but also chased them away across the LAC.
No Need For Armed Forces If Labourers Are Used
In 2021, Rahul Gandhi also said that India would not need its Army, Navy, or Air Force against China if Indian labourers, farmers, and workers were used.
Armed forces veterans condemned this statement vehemently.
Repeatedly Claimed Chinese Intruded Into India
Rahul Gandhi repeatedly claimed in his public statements that the Chinese have intruded into India bringing down the morale of the armed forces.
प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा था- लद्दाख में एक इंच जमीन नहीं गई है। ये सरासर झूठ है।
पूरा लद्दाख जानता है कि चीन ने हमारी जमीन हड़प ली है।
मैप की बात तो गंभीर है, लेकिन चीन ने असल में हमारी जमीन ले ली है। इस पर प्रधानमंत्री को कुछ कहना चाहिए।
: @RahulGandhi जी pic.twitter.com/GXOFNIN7XN
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 30, 2023
Cong Leader Deletes Post Praising India, Slamming China
Just a month before the clash in May 2020 when the tension between the countries was escalating, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury posted a tweet in which he slammed China and praised the Indian army.
However, the tweet was soon deleted. It is a matter of wonder who might have asked Chowdhury to delete the post.
Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t have a word of condemnation for the Chinese Army, or praise for the valour of Indian troops must answer why this tweet put out by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury deleted? Was he forced?
Whose interest did this hurt? China, Gandhi family or both? pic.twitter.com/feK18GJ5RF— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 18, 2020
Mocked Indian Army Jawans, Dog Unit On Intl Yoga Day
In June 2019 right after a drubbing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi tweeted a photo of Indian Army dogs and their handlers performing exercises on International Yoga Day.
In just one tweet Rahul Gandhi insulted the Indian Army jawans, the incredible dog unit of the Army, Yoga tradition, and the country as a whole with his ‘New India’ jibe.
New India. pic.twitter.com/10yDJJVAHD
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 21, 2019
Allegedly Caught Using Mobile While Paying Respect to Pulwama Attack Martyrs
Rahul Gandhi was seen using his mobile phone while paying respects to the soldiers martyred in the Pulwama attack. This incident is not isolated to Gandhi alone; the Congress party as a whole has a history of actions perceived as demeaning to the Indian armed forces.
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) February 15, 2019
Demanded Proof Of Surgical Strikes
Congress had demanded proof of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army following the Uri Attack. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, RS MP Digvijay Singh too asserted that there was no proof that the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes thereby peddling Pakistani propaganda.
Not Commemorating Kargil Vijay Diwas
The then Congress-led UPA government did not even commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas from 2004 to 2009 since it was seen as “BJP’s War“
The Congress’ contempt for the Indian Armed Forces probably flows from the fountainhead of its ideologue Nehru. Because he is the man who said: “We don’t need a defence plan. Our policy is ahimsa (non-violence). We foresee no military threats. Scrap the army! The police are good enough to meet our security needs”, Nehru had allegedly told Lt General Sir Robert Lockhart, the first commander in chief of India.
(with inputs from Hindustan Times)
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