NSG Commando came out with Kejriwal, claims non-payment of financial benefits
New Delhi: A former NSG commando Surender Singh (34), who fought terrorists in the 26/11 attack and was invalidated from service after he became medically unfit, on Thursday claimed he has not got any financial benefits or pension and the money “gifted” to him and his colleagues.
However, the government rejected his claim with Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari saying that the commando has been paid Rs 31 lakh in the form of ex-gratia payment by the Governments of India and Maharashtra. Interestingly, the Government’s rejection first came on PIB’s twitter handle even as the press conference was on.
Narating his story, Singh said he was severely injured in the operation to flush out terrorists from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and was invalidated from service in October, 2011. Since last year, he alleged, he has not received “even a single paise” from the government. Singh claimed that NSG commandos, who were injured in the 26/11 operation, received a “number of gifts in the form of cheques” but the force had not dispersed them to the people concerned.
Surender also distributed copies of an RTI reply which said he received around Rs 2.5 lakh as financial benefits from the Government of India. Presenting an order from the Government which said Singh was not eligible to get pension as he has put in only 14 years and three months of service as against the mandatory 15 years, Kejriwal claimed there are several clauses in the law under which a commando can be given concessions so that he gets his pension.
The Government was swift in rejecting the allegations when it took to twitter and said: “The government has given Nk (Naik) Surender Singh all his dues.”
Press Information Bureau’s twitter handle said: “(The government has) informed Singh on November 16 through telephone that war injury pension has been sanctioned and bankers were also informed.”
Tewari said he has been paid Rs 31 lakh and that he also received Rs 25,000 which is not in the form of a war injury pension.
