Soldier's family ends fast, Govt announces Rs 46 lakh compensation

Khairair (UP): Martyred soldier Lance Naik Hemraj’s family ended their six-day-old fast on Monday after the visit of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, top BJP leaders and assurances by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh that steps will be taken to get back the severed head. The end of the protest came in the evening when Akhilesh met the family and offered juice to Hemraj’s fasting wife Dharamwati, mother Meena Devi and cousin Narendra, offering all help to the family as well as for the development of the village. Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh visited the family of the martyred soldier and announced that the government would give Rs 46 lakh to the family. “We are also talking to other ministries so that the family get a petrol pump,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_588023” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Martyred soldier Hemraj’s wife. Screen grab/ibnlive[/caption] Akhilesh promised to take steps to meet the family’s demands, including development of the road for the village and take up with the Centre the allotment of a petrol pump for them. “The family have shown the strength to face this (tragedy). We have to stand by them. We should all support the family of Lance Naik Hemraj. We have assured that whatever demands they have made for village.” The day began with the family refusing to take “even liquid”, demanding that the Army chief meet them personally and give an assurance that Hemraj’s head severed by Pakistani troops last week be brought back or else they will continue the fast. However, the family decided to end the fast after a string of leaders, including Akhilesh, Jitendra Singh and top BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh visited them and offered support. When pointed out that Army chief Gen Bikram Singh has revealed that the Pakistani army had beheaded two Indian soldiers earlier too, Alvi only said that “it must be under his knowledge if the Army chief said so”. He said that the government is very serious on the issue and there is no scope for soft-pedalling it. The party spokesman rejected contentions that Pakistan has also often blamed India for violence there, noting, “Pakistan says this to cover up its conspiracy…We know Pakistan is involved in the conspiracy”. He also dismissed as “weird” contentions that the ruling UPA was raking up this issue to divert attention from real problems. While maintaining that India is trying to get the head of the slain soldier and had strongly raised the issue at the Brigade Commander-level flag meeting between the two countries, he said this issue does not concern one family but the entire nation. Expressing concern over frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Alvi asserted, “Our Army is ready to face any situation at any time. We want friendship but, at the same time, we are ready to face any eventuality…We have maintained friendship with people but, at the same time, also taught lessons to our enemies.” PTI