“Army Shouldn’t Be Involved in Politics”

||Black and White Digital News ||

||Parvinder Singh July 05,2024 ||

Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief RKS Bhadauria on Thursday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments on the Agniveer scheme, urging that the Army should not be dragged into political controversies. Bhadauria’s remarks followed Gandhi’s accusation that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied about compensating the next of kin of an Agniveer who died in the line of duty.

Bhadauria Defends Agniveer Scheme and Army’s Integrity:

Bhadauria, who joined the BJP in March, stated that Gandhi’s claims were incorrect and demanded an apology. “A controversy is being created that the defence minister’s claim that ₹1 crore has already been given was a lie. They should apologize for it because the fact is that about ₹98 crore has already been given to Ajay Singh’s family, and ₹67 lakh more will be given,” he said. He emphasized that the Army should not be involved in such politics, describing it as an emotional issue.

Rahul Gandhi’s Accusations and the Army’s Response:

Rahul Gandhi had released a video purportedly featuring the father of an Agniveer, who claimed the family received no compensation or help after his son’s death in a landmine explosion in Jammu and Kashmir in January. Gandhi accused Rajnath Singh of lying in Parliament about the assistance given to the family. “Martyr Agniveer Ajay’s father has himself told the truth and exposed their lies. The defence minister should apologize to the Parliament, the country, the army, and the family of the martyr,” Gandhi wrote.

However, the Indian Army rejected Gandhi’s claims, stating that the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar had already been paid ₹98.39 lakhs and would receive approximately ₹67 lakhs more after final account settlement and police verification. “The total amount will be ₹1.65 Cr approximately,” the Army clarified.

Controversy Over Agnipath Recruitment Policy:

On Monday, Gandhi, recently appointed as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, criticized the Agnipath recruitment policy, leading to parts of his speech being expunged from the Parliament’s records. Bhadauria defended the Agniveer scheme, asserting that it was well thought-out and implemented after extensive discussions. He assured that soldiers recruited under the scheme are as capable as regular soldiers and appealed to the youth to join the Army without being misled by negative claims.

This ongoing dispute highlights the political tensions surrounding military policies and the sensitive nature of compensations for fallen soldiers’ families, underlining the need for clarity and respect for the armed forces’ integrity.