Rahul Gandhi says Agniveer scheme devised to ‘insult’ Indian bravehearts, Army clarifies

financialexpress.com:

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.”

<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agniveer?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#Agniveer

(Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman laid down his life in the line of duty in <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Siachen?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#Siachen. <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#IndianArmy stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.

In view of conflicting messages on social media regarding financial assistance to the Next of Kin of the… pic.twitter.com/46SVfMbcjl

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