1. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to the Indian Army on July 4 for their dedicated service.
2. His thanks coincided with a contentious discussion on compensation for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme.
3. Agniveers are young recruits aged 17.5 to 23 years enlisted for extended military service.
Guwahati, July 04: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked the Indian Army on July 4 for their steadfast dedication and service to the nation.
His acknowledgement coincided with a heated debate over compensation for Agniveers, young recruits enrolled under the Agnipath scheme aimed at fostering extended military service among individuals aged 17.5 to 23 years.
The controversy sparked after Rahul Gandhi shared a video questioning the transparency of compensation distribution overseen by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
I sincerely thank the Indian Army for taking care of every jawan. https://t.co/EBpqxLu5nz
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 4, 2024
Gandhi criticized the government in Parliament, alleging that Agniveers were being treated as disposable labor, raising concerns about support for those who sacrifice their lives in service.
In response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted the accusations, affirming that families of deceased Agniveers receive a compensation package of Rs 1 crore.
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This package forms part of the comprehensive Agnipath scheme launched on June 14, 2022, which recruits youth into military service and ensures substantial financial aid to bereaved families.
Amid ongoing discussions, the Indian Army issued a detailed clarification addressing social media posts and public inquiries regarding compensation processes for the late Agniveer Ajay Kumar.
The Army honored Kumar’s sacrifice with full military honors and confirmed Rs 98.39 lakhs disbursed to his family.
Pending police verifications are expected to finalize additional Rs 67 lakhs in ex-gratia payments and benefits, bringing the total compensation to approximately Rs 1.65 crore once processed.
