Agniveer martyred in Siachen; Army clarifies financial aid to fallen Agniveer's family amid Rahul Gandhi's ‘insult’ charge

NewsBharati    23-Oct-2023 10:54:30 AM
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Siachen, Oct 23: An Agniveer martyred in the line of duty in Siachen, the Army's Leh-headquartered Fire and Fury Corps said on Sunday. It is learned that Laxman was martyred in the early hours of Saturday.
 
Army Chief General Manoj Pande and all ranks of the Army condoled the death of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman who hailed from Maharashtra. The Siachen glacier at a height of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.
  
agniveer siachen martyr
"Quartered in snow silent to remain, when the bugle calls they shall rise and march again," the Fire and Fury Corps said on 'X'. "All ranks of Fire and Fury Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of #Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman, in the line of duty, in the unforgiving heights of #Siachen and offer deepest condolences to the family," it said.
 
 
Amid this, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi chose to accuse the Agniveer scheme of neglecting the families of martyred soldiers following the death of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman, a charge also vehemently denied by the BJP.
 
Gandhi shared a picture of Agniveer Laxman and said the news of his death in Siachen was saddening. "My deepest condolences to his family. A young man was martyred for the country - no gratuity, no other military facilities for his service, and no pension to his family in martyrdom. Agniveer is a plan to insult the heroes of India," Gandhi said in a Post on X.
 
Refuting the allegations, the Indian Army expressed its unwavering support for his bereaved family during this somber time and has clarified that his family will receive the financial support mandated by his service. 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."
 
 
The army listed the following emoluments authorised for a deceased Battle Casualty as per terms of engagement of Agniveers:
  • A non-contributory insurance sum, amounting to Rs 48 Lakh.

  • Seva Nidhi, contributed by the Agniveer (30%), matched by an equal contribution from the Government, along with interest.

  • Ex-gratia payment of Rs 44 Lakh.

  • Pay for the remaining tenure from the date of death until the completion of four years, which, in this case, exceeds Rs 13 Lakh.

  • A contribution of Rs 8 Lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund.

  • Immediate financial assistance of Rs 30,000 from the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA).
BJP also slammed Rahul Gandhi for peddling "fake news". He termed the charge "absolute trash and irresponsible. So, stop peddling FakeNews. You are aspiring to be Prime Minister. Try and behave like one," Malviya said in his post.
Agniveer Indian Army Rahul Gandhi Fire and Fury Corps Siachen Manoj Pande Gawate Akshay Laxman