New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, came out all guns blazing against the central government on Monday over the compensation granted to the families of the Agniveers who lost their lives in the line of duty, saying that the families received "insurance, not compensation."
Speaking on the Agniveer scheme in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition attacked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, claiming that the latter lied about the compensation of Rs 1 crore given to the family of the Agniveers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
"The Defence Minister had earlier said that compensation of Rs 1 crore was given to the family of Agniveer. But he was wrong. The insurance money was given to the family of Agniveer; they were not given compensation. This is true; no one can deny it," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for not including the pension of Agniveers in the Union Budget 2024.
"The Modi government has trapped the army soldiers in the Agniveer Chakravyuh. There is not a single rupee in the budget for the pension of Agniveers. You call yourself a patriot. But when it comes to helping Agniveers and giving money to soldiers, you don't see a single rupee in the budget," he said.
Meanwhile, sources from the Ministry of Defence said that the family of Agniveer, who dies during active military service, will be awarded more than Rs 1 crore.
"If any Agniveer dies during active military service, the next of kin will be awarded more than Rs 1 crore. This includes Rs 48 lakh of insurance for which no payment is taken from the Agniveer. Ex-gratia of Rs 44 lakh, the Seva Nidhi package of approximately Rs 11.70 lakh, and the salary remuneration for the period of service left will also be given to the families. In addition, there is also insurance cover of between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore for the Agniveers which the government has signed with various banks. For this insurance as well, Agniveers are not required to pay any premium," it said.
Earlier, drawing parallels from the Mahabharata, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Union Budget and said that there's an atmosphere of fear in the country, adding that the country is now trapped in a "Chakravyuh of lotus," referring to the BJP's symbol.
Speaking on the Union Budget 2024 in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that farmers, workers, and youngsters of the nation are terrified.
"In the last speech, I spoke about some religious concepts. Shivji's concept and concept of Ahinsa is that the trishool is placed behind the back and is not held in the hand. I spoke about the snake on Shivji's neck and I also said how all religions in our country proposed the idea of non-violence, which can be capsulated in the phrase Daro mat Darao mat. I also said that there is an idea beyond the personal. The idea of the Abhay Mudra is that transmits this motion of Ahinsa and affection and fearlessness to everybody else. There is an atmosphere of fear, dar ka mahool hai Hindustan main. My friends are smiling but they are also scared. Budget par hi bol raha hu sir. Sir, you see the problem in the BJP: only one man is allowed to dream of being Prime Minister. If the Defence Minister decides he wants to be Prime Minister, there is a big problem--there is fear. So there is fear in the country. The question I was asking myself was: Why is this fear spreading so deeply? Why is it that my friends in the BJP are terrified, the ministers are terrified, the farmers of India are terrified, and workers and youngsters are terrified," Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister for prominently displaying the lotus symbol and claimed that a new Chakravyuh had been created in the 21st century.
"Thousands of years ago, in Kurukshetra, six people trapped Abhimanyu in a 'Chakravyuh' and killed him. I did a little research and found out that 'Chakravyuh' is also known as 'Padmavuyh' - which means 'Lotus formation'. Chakravyuh' is in the shape of a Lotus. In the 21st century, a new 'Chakravyuh' has been formed - that too in the form of a Lotus. The Prime Minister wears its symbol on his chest. What was done with Abhimanyu, is being down with India - the youth, farmers, women, small and medium businesses. Abhimanyu was killed by six people. Today, too there are six people in the centre of 'Chakravyuh'. Six people control India today too -Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Ajit Doval, Ambani and Adani," he added.
—ANI