Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that the state government will give Rs one crore compensation to the family of killed Agniveer jawan Amritpal Singh as per the state’s policy.
The Chief Minister said that the centre may adopt any policy towards the soldiers of the country but his government is committed to honouring the families of such “sons of soil”.
He said that as per the policy of the state government, Amritpal’s family will be given financial assistance worth Rs one crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the cheque will be handed over to the aggrieved family soon.
The Chief Minister slammed the central government for meting out step-motherly treatment to Amritpal’s family, who had laid down his life while serving to preserve the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.
Mann said that it is totally unwarranted and undesirable adding that disrespect to the martyrdom of a great son is highly condemnable. He added that he will soon flag up this issue with the central government.
“Whatever may be the policy of the army regarding the death of Shaheed Amritpal Singh, but the policy of the Punjab government will remain the same as for every
martyr…Shaheed Amritpal Singh is a martyr of the country. We will raise strong objections to this with the central government,” Mann said in a post on ‘X’.
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 14, 2023
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said that it was shocking to note that no army guard of honour was given during the cremation of the first martyred Agniveer from the Mansa district of Punjab.
“It was quite shocking to learn that no army guard of honour was given during the cremation of the first martyred Agniveer from the Mansa district of Punjab Amritpal Singh (21). Didn’t he lay down his life for the country?” Bajwa said in a post on ‘X’.
Slamming the central government for introducing the Agnipath scheme, Bajwa said, “The Agnipath scheme introduced by the @BJP4India-led Union government is the most pathetic scheme to recruit army personnel. That is why the Indian National Congress has been aggressively opposing the scheme from day one.”
“Toeing the line of its masters in the centre, the @AAPPunjab conceded to the scheme. Now Punjab CM @BhagwantMann mustn’t run away from holding the hand of the grieved family of the martyred soldier and announce at least Rs one crore ex gratia to the family of the martyr immediately,” he added.
An Agniveer recruit died owing to a self-inflicted gunshot injury while being on sentry duty in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri sector, army officials said on Saturday.
“In an unfortunate incident, Agniveer Amritpal Singh died while on sentry duty in Rajouri Sector, due to a self-inflicted gunshot injury,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on ‘X’.
It added that a Court of Inquiry would be held to ascertain more details on his death which is currently in progress. The death took place on October 11.
