Captain Anshuman Singh was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously this year. This heroic soldier tragically died while rescuing others in a fire at Siachen in June 2023. Hence, the Indian Army and the Union Government granted India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award to him.
The ceremony was solemn and the nation mourned with the bereaved mother and the young widow. However, instead of being remembered solely for his bravery, his legacy has become entangled in a bitter dispute on ‘MONEY’. The upset parents accuse the widow and question the NOK policy of the Defense Forces!
And wherever there is ‘Kalesh,’ Piddi Medi is right there fanning the fires. Thus, the grieving parents have been turned into grumbling in-laws by media sensationalism and political opportunism of the CON party! Let’s explore how this narrative undermines the love and trust of Kirti Chakra Capt. Anshuman and his wife.
Kirti Chakra Martyr’s Widow: A Plight of Love and Loyalty Questioned
After his marriage, Captain Anshuman Singh nominated his wife Smriti Singh as his sole beneficiary. This was done through a legal document called Next of Kin or NOK. The soldier’s decision was made with clear intent in favor of his wife. It was meant to ensure her financial security in the event of his death. Although the marriage lasted only 5 months, the couple was in a committed relationship for 8 years! Hence, the man on the border chose to make his once-in-a-lifetime love, his beneficiary.
Yet, this choice has now led to public vilification of Smriti, with accusations of her being a gold digger and abandoning the family.
The Piddi media has played a significant role in this case. They are using and amplifying the parents’ grievances and framing Smriti in a negative light. Additionally, statements like “bahuen to bhaag jati hai” (the daughter-in-law ran away) from her mother-in-law have further fueled this narrative. Unfortunately, such accusations disregard the fact that the Kirti Chakra Martyr willingly chose his wife as his NOK. He understood the risks of his profession and chose to provide for her in case of death!
Kriti Chakra Martyr’s Parent: A Story Of Anguish, Grief, and Control
…Paise le ke bhaag gayi…
…5 hi mahine the shaadi ko…
– Parents of Anshuman SinghThese statements are disgraceful.
I stand with Ms Smriti in this.
— Shashank Shekhar Jha (@shashank_ssj) July 12, 2024
Ravi Pratap Singh and Manju Singh are the parents of Kirti Chakra Martyr’, Capt. Anshuman Singh. Silent for a year, they have chosen to call for changes in the Indian Army’s Next of Kin or NOK policy. The parents argue that the young bride-turned-widow, Smriti Singh, enjoys the benefits of their son’s sacrifice. They state that the widow no longer lives with them and even the conferred medal was taken away by the wife despite the mother being a co-recipient. In addition to the regular payouts by the Army, the UP government has already divided a sum of 50 lakhs between Smriti and the parents, acknowledging both parties’ roles in the soldier’s life. The insurance sum was also divided between both parties!
However, the parents’ ongoing demands for further changes and public accusations continue to tarnish Smriti’s reputation and cast her in an unjust light.
They demand policy revision despite being fully aware of the established rules. They know that their son chose to give everything to his new wife and long-time love. Yet, they insist that the emoluments received should be distributed according to the number of dependents. They accuse that the widow is childless and has moved out, thus, she does not deserve to be included in their son’s estate to such a large extent.
It appears that the parents are driven by personal grief and a desire for control over their son’s monetary legacy.
Shameful
CONgis shows EDITED video of martyr Cap Anshuman Singh’s mother about Agniveer
She said that @rajnathsingh ji & @myogiadityanath ji has done a lot for them@adgpi please SUE Rahul Gandhi, an industrial scale supreme court certified LIAR 🙏pic.twitter.com/pBqPqmwuL2 https://t.co/GNdYhXOpyL
— PallaviCT (@pallavict) July 9, 2024
Are The Parents Left With Nothing?
Of course not! The parents were given due share in the emoluments and benefits. As an ex-army soldier himself, Ravi Pratap Singh is well-acquainted with the NOK rules. The NOK rules clearly state that the spouse becomes the primary beneficiary upon marriage. He enjoys his rightfully earned pension and after his death the mother will enjoy a family pension.
The Indian Army rules ensure that the soldier’s immediate family, often the spouse, is provided for in their absence. However, the Indian Army also allows the soldier to allocate benefits to other family members. The soldier can choose 50-50, 70-30, or other ratios, with at least 50% assigned to a spouse, in the NOK form. However, Kirti Chakra Capt. Anshuman did not use any ratio, he opted to nominate his long-time girlfriend and wife instead for the complete amount. But, since the marriage lasted for less than a year, the parents got a share from the insurance and other benefits!
Piddi Media Manipulation: Political Agendas At Play
Facts on allegations raised by parents of Capt Anshuman Singh
– Parents have received 15 lacs & equal share of insurance amt
– Parents are class 1 heir w/n 1st year of marriage
– Father is retd Subedar getting all retirement benefits for him and his wifeRahul Gandhi's game 😡 pic.twitter.com/8Zm55KKUuk
— H G Tannhaus (@tannhaushg) July 12, 2024
Piddi media’s sensationalism stops at no bounds of decency. They are trying to egg the parents to appeal to Rahul Gandhi for “justice”! They want to distort the true essence of the dispute for political maneuvering. Consequently, the angry parents are being exploited by the CON party which has already tried to use the grieving mother to talk against the Agniveer Scheme. The Piddi media aims to use this family’s tragedy to criticize the Union government and the Indian Army. The aim is to turn a personal loss into a tool for their political agendas.
This exploitation of grief and loss for political gain is a disservice to the memory of Captain Anshuman Singh and the values he stood for.
The shallow politics and media bytes have transformed a personal struggle for money and control into a public spectacle. They are ensuring that the character of a young widow is questioned and her story goes from Widow-to-Witch in 30 seconds! This narrative not only dishonors Anshuman’s choice but also undermines the integrity of a system designed to support soldiers’ families.
The Emotional Toll For A Divided Family
The emotional toll of this dispute is profound. Smriti Singh, already grieving the loss of her husband, now faces public scrutiny and vilification. Her in-laws’ public outcry not only challenges her character but also questions the love and trust Anshuman placed in her.
For the parents, their grief has turned into a quest for control, overshadowing the honor and bravery of their son. Their public accusations and demands for policy changes reflect a deeper struggle to cope with their loss and find a way to move forward.
Consequently, the family must resolve their differences privately, away from the prying eyes of the media and political opportunists. Washing their dirty linen in public only leads to a smear campaign against Smriti Singh and vilifies the bereaved parents. Moreover, it dishonors the Kirit Chakra Martyr’s legal wishes and combat bravery!
Thus, Capt. Anshuman Singh’s ultimate sacrifice for his country deserves respect, not controversy. The government and army have defined clear rules to ensure that a soldier’s wishes regarding NOK are honored. It is time for the family to reconcile their differences privately and for the media to stop exploiting their pain for sensational stories. Let Bharat remember the story of Kirti Chakra Martys for their bravery, not for the internal power struggles in a grieving family! Hopefully, this matter will die a quiet death, and the nation can truly pay tribute to the memory of its martyrs!