Rajnath Singh refutes Rahul Gandhi's Agnipath scheme claim in bitter Lok Sabha face off
New Delhi/IBNS: Centre's Agnipath scheme, which received massive flak from the Opposition, was once again at the heart of a heated debate between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Rajnath Singh Monday.
The Defence Minister accused Gandhi of disseminating false information and misleading the people on the same and offered to discuss the issue in the House.
मैं नेता प्रतिपक्ष से विनम्रतापूपर्वक अनुरोध करना चाहता हूं कि कृपया वो संसद को गुमराह करने की कोशिश न करें। अग्निवीर योजना के संबंध में बहुत सारे लोगों से, 158 organizations के साथ सीधा संवाद स्थापित किया गया, उनके सुझाव लिये गए, तब यह अग्निवीर योजना लाई गई है। बहुत सोच समझकर यह… pic.twitter.com/Nr47CVAzEI
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 1, 2024
In his speech on the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Gandhi claimed that the Agnipath scheme has robbed the country's soldiers and their families of financial security and respect, pointing to the absence of pensions.
He alleged that the scheme exposes the government's "anti-youth and anti-farmer" leanings.
Singh said that Gandhi had propagated several misconceptions about the Budget, which Finance Minister Sitharaman would clarify in her upcoming speech.
He said the Leader of the Opposition was misleading the public regarding Agnipath.
On July 1, a similar heated exchange had unfolded in the Lok Sabha between Gandhi and Rajnath Singh.
"One Agniveer lost his life in a landmine blast, but he is not recognised as a 'martyr'. I consider him a martyr, but the government of India does not. PM Modi does not call him a martyr -- he refers to him as an Agniveer. His family will not receive pension or compensation. The Agnipath scheme treats them as expendable, like a labourer," Gandhi had said, setting off massive protests from the BJP members.
To this, Singh contended that the Congress leader was misleading the House and clarified that the families of Agniveers who die in the line of duty receive financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) should not mislead the House with incorrect statements. Financial aid of ₹ 1 crore is provided to the family of an Agniveer who sacrifices his life while defending our borders or during wartime," Singh had asserted.
Rahul Gandhi later cited the case of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who died in the line of duty and posted a video of his father claiming the family had not received any money from the central government and demanded facilities as well as pension.
Ajay Kumar's family later clarified that they had received some compensation but demanded hero status for him.
"We want the Agniveer scheme to be scrapped and we should get pension and canteen card," his father told NDTV.
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