Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that his government will accord the status of a martyr to Agniveer Amritpal Singh who lost his life in Jammu and Kashmir last week. His statements came after the Indian Army refused to give a Guard of Honour to Singh while stating that he died by suicide by shooting himself while on sentry duty and guards of honours are not extended in case of self-inflicted injuries. The Punjab Chief Minister remarked that the Army declaring Amritpal's martyrdom as a suicide was like rubbing salt into the wounds of his family.
Mann visited Amritpal Singh's house in Kotli Kalan village in the Mansa district today and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore as compensation to his family.
Singh was serving with a battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in the Poonch sector. He died on October 11 and was cremated on Friday at his native village.
No military honours were extended to Singh during his last rites. When questions started to arise regarding the lack of military honours, the Army on Sunday asserted that Singh died by suicide which is why he wasn't given any such honours. The Army clarified that it does not differentiate among soldiers based on whether they joined the force prior to or after the implementation of the Agnipath scheme, reported news agency PTI.
CM Mann after this clarification from the Army said that the state government stands firmly with the family of the deceased during this time of grief. He said that his government recognises the "irreparable loss" to the nation and particularly to the martyr's family. He added that a statue in the memory of the martyr would also be installed in the village.
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He expressed his displeasure over the Army's decision and said that this act of “discrimination” would hurt the morale of Army personnel. He said, "Such kind of discrimination will prove to be dangerous in the Army. It is truly unfortunate that his sacrifice, in the line of duty, has not been recognised as that of a martyr, setting a concerning precedent." He said that it was a shameful act that for the first time the body of a martyred soldier was brought in a private ambulance. He added that it was an insult to Singh, PTI reported.
He further said that it is even more unfortunate that the Army declared Amritpal's martyrdom as a suicide and this was like rubbing salt into the wounds of his family. He said that a courageous soldier who embarks on duty with the commitment to lay down his life for the country can never commit suicide, PTI reported.
He said, “It is more than an insult saying that he committed suicide. He was taking care of his entire family. A person who opts for the Army does not commit suicide."
If martyrs are treated in this manner then it might dissuade parents from sending their children to the Indian Army, said Mann. He opposed the Agniveer scheme saying that it was an insult to the contribution of the brave soldiers and that the Centre should reconsider it, PTI reported.
He said that the jobs of army personnel recruited under the Agniveer scheme should be regularised. Mann continued to say, "No matter what policy the Centre adopts towards the martyrs of the country, the Punjab government is committed to honouring the families and supreme sacrifices of all brave sons of the state."
He slammed the Centre for giving a "Step-motherly" treatment to the soldier and said that it is shameful that the Centre adopted an “apathetic” attitude towards the valiant son of the country.
According to PTI, Mann said that it was completely unjustified and disrespecting the martyrdom of the son of Punjab. He added that he would soon take up the issue with the Centre.
The state government will impress upon the Centre to roll back the Agniveer scheme which is a “grave insult to the brave soldiers,” said Mann.