'Sons Of These Politicians Are Not In Army, They Won't Understand Our Pain': Widow Of Pulwama Martyr Hemraj

The widow of a soldier killed in the 2019 Pulwama attack, Madhubala Meena, stated that because the sons of these politicians and leaders are not in the army, they will not understand their pain.

Widows of Pulwama attack victims Rohitash Lamba, Jeetram Gurjar and Hemraj Meena with MP Kirori Lal Meena with MP Kirori Lal Meena during a protest against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in Jaipur

Source : PTI

Madhubala Meena, the widow of Hemraj, the soldier who was killed in the 2019 Pulwama attack, claimed that more than ten women police officers forced her to ride in a car from the protest site in Jaipur under the guise of medical care and drove her to her home in Kota Sangod, where she was placed under house arrest, news agency ANI reported.

Kota, RJ | I was protesting in Jaipur along with MP Kirodi Lal Meena &other widows. The demand to install statue of Hemraj at court square will continue: Madhubala Meena, widow of jawan Hemraj who lost his life during the 2019 Pulwama attack pic.twitter.com/b5KavVSeRh

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) March 11, 2023

The widow of the jawan martyred in the 2019 Pulwama attack said: "I was protesting in Jaipur along with MP Kirodi Lal Meena & other widows. The demand to install the statue of Hemraj at court square will continue". 

"Sons of these ministers & leaders are not in the army, so they will not understand our pain. I never said that Swami Vivekananda's statue should be removed & jawan's statue should be installed. Swami Vivekananda has served the country, he should not be insulted," she said. 

Madhubala Meena further said, "the local MLA unveiled the statue of martyr Hemraj by installing it, but none of us has even been told about it. I warn the government that if the demands are not met, then there will be a dharna again".

Earlier in the day, police detained Rajasthan BJP workers in Jaipur after the party held a large protest against the state's Congress government over an 'insult' to Pulwama martyrs' widows.

Previously, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot refused to meet with the widows of the Pulwama soldiers, who have been protesting and demanding employment for their families. The chief minister met with other widows and addressed the matter with them after tweeting that it wouldn't be better if the positions were preserved for their children. 

Today, a day after Rajasthan police detained BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena, party workers protested again in Jaipur. CM Ashok Gehlot accused Meena of exploiting widows for political benefit. Meena, in turn, has accused the police of "trying to kill him".

The nearly two-week-long rallies are spearheaded by widows of soldiers killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, who are seeking employment for their families and other concerns. The widows who had been protesting outside deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot's residence in Jaipur were taken by police on Friday morning and sent to hospitals in their respective residential regions.

Today, CM Gehlot met with the widows of soldiers who were killed in battle during previous missions. They advised him that only their children should be granted government jobs. The widows of soldiers martyred in the Pulwama incident did not have the opportunity to meet Gehlot.

The state government was slammed by the BJP, who called the action "an insult to the widows" and accused it of failing to keep commitments made to the families.

(With Inputs From Agencies)