Assam: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, April 23, said soldiers who died for their country would now be given ₹50 lakh instead of 20 lakh. Speaking at an event in honour of veterans of the 1971 war, he also said government jobs would be given to a family member.
The soldiers who lose their lives for the country will now be given Rs 50 lakh instead of 20 lakh and a government job will also be given to one person in their family: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma at the honor ceremony of the veterans of the 1971 war pic.twitter.com/hO6l0eTZqt
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2022
Sharing snippets from the event, Himanta Biswa Sarma Tweeted, “Our government has made efforts to recognise and compensate the sacrifices made by our soldiers by way of offering ₹50 lakh as ex gratia, jobs for next of kin, 2% job reservation in Govt jobs, and reservation of seats for their wards in medical studies.”
Our government has made efforts to recognise and compensate the sacrifices made by our soldiers by way of offering ₹50 lakh as ex gratia, jobs for next of kin, 2% job reservation in Govt jobs, and reservation of seats for their wards in medical studies. pic.twitter.com/U8DqV83Oa0
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 23, 2022
An award ceremony was held in Assam’s capital Guwahati to honour soldiers who fought in the 1971 conflict that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. Defence minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest. Sarma, his cabinet colleagues, and senior officials were also present.
The CM also thanked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who visited Assam on Saturday (April 23) to attend an award ceremony at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
“I feel honored at having accompanied Hon RM Shri @rajnathsingh ji who inaugurated an exhibition by Directorate of Sainik Welfare at Kalakshetra today. The exhibition is to showcase the valour & supreme sacrifice of our armed forces in 1971 war. We’re grateful to Raksha Mantri ji.”
I feel honored at having accompanied Hon RM Shri @rajnathsingh ji who inaugurated an exhibition by Directorate of Sainik Welfare at Kalakshetra today. The exhibition is to showcase the valour & supreme sacrifice of our armed forces in 1971 war. We're grateful to Raksha Mantri ji. pic.twitter.com/gCIXXFSlwl
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 23, 2022
Meanwhile, the union defence minister, speaking at length on the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), said the work of removing AFSPA – in place in multiple districts in the northeast – had been underway for the past three to four years.
“It’s no small thing that for the last 3-4 years, the work of removing AFSPA is being done in the northeastern states. Recently AFSPA was completely removed from 23 Assam districts.”
The defence minister also referred to the removal of AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir. He made the same reference in 2015, when he was union home minister, saying the law could be withdrawn in the then state when the situation is conducive.
