Rahul Gandhi Flags Gaps In Healthcare, Employment For Ex-Servicemen At Parliamentary Panel Meet

A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence on Monday focused on the challenges faced by ex-servicemen in terms of resettlement, employment opportunities and access to healthcare facilities.

Members of the committee expressed concern over the limited absorption of former soldiers into government jobs despite existing provisions.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the Defence Committee, highlighted the serious difficulties faced by ex-servicemen in accessing medical treatment. He pointed out that when veterans are referred to private hospitals, they often face denial of treatment or significant delays, as many hospitals cite pending government dues as the reason for refusing admission.

Gandhi also raised concerns over the limited financial assistance available for serious illnesses, noting that ex-servicemen are entitled to only Rs 75,000 for cancer- and kidney-related treatment. He questioned how such life-threatening conditions could be treated within this amount and called for an increase in the limit.

Members further stressed that public sector undertakings should play a larger role in employing former soldiers, noting that nearly 60,000 personnel retire from the armed forces every year, yet adequate rehabilitation and employment opportunities remain lacking.

Earlier, the Lok Sabha LoP strongly condemned the racial killing of Tripura students Anjel Chakma in Dehradun and accused the BJP of “normalising hate,” which is leading to such incidents. Rahul Gandhi, voicing against the brutal assault of Anjel Chakma, urged people to “reflect and confront” and not to become a “dead society.”

Rahul Gandhi’s remark came after the attack on MBA student Anjel Chakma and his brother Michael Chakma by a group of miscreants with knives and other blunt objects in Dehradun. On December 9, Anjel Chakma succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

“What happened to Anjel Chakma and his brother Michael in Dehradun is a horrific hate crime. Hate doesn’t appear overnight. For years now it is being fed daily – especially to our youth – through toxic content and irresponsible narratives. And it’s being normalised by the hate-spewing leadership of the ruling BJP,” Lok Sabha LoP said in a post on X.

“India is built on respect and unity, not fear and abuse. We are a country of love and diversity. We must not become a dead society that looks away while fellow Indians are targeted. We must reflect and confront what we are allowing our country to become,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi further expressed solidarity with the Chakma family and the people of the Northeast.

“My thoughts are with the Chakma family and the people of Tripura and the Northeast. We are proud to call you our fellow Indian brothers and sisters,” he said.

Five people have already been arrested in connection with the incident. Among them, two accused are minors and have been sent to a juvenile reform home. Police are continuously conducting raids to arrest an absconding accused, on whom a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced. A police team has also been sent to Nepal in search of the absconding accused, according to the Uttarakhand CMO.