After Rahul’s tweet, Gujarat CM announces sops for killed soldier’s family

Gandhinagar, Dec 2 (IANS) After Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's tweet, tagging the video of police dragging away the daughter of a dead soldier who wanted to meet Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, went viral, the Chief Minister on Saturday announced a slew of sops that the soldier's family was waiting for since the past 15 years.

Rupal Tadvi, as can be seen in the viral video, was dragged and manhandled by the police during Rupani's poll campaign on Friday, and not being allowed to meet the Chief Minister.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the "arrogance" of BJP was at its height through this gesture.

When the Gujarat Chief Minister was addressing an election campaigning rally in Narmada, Rupal Tadvi, the daughter of Ashok Tadvi, ran towards the dais from where Rupani was addressing, breaching the security cover. The police immediately took her in their hold while she was shouting to let her meet the Chief Minister. Rupani can be heard in the background saying that he will meet her later and ordered the police to take her away.

Ashok Tadvi was a soldier in the Border Security Force (BSF) and was reportedly killed in a terrorist attack in Kashmir in 2002. Since then, his family had been running from pillar to post to get the dues from the state government. They had even approached the top leadership in the government in Gandhinagar, but to no avail.

In his tweet, Gandhi said, "The arrogance of BJP is at its peak. Great patriot Rupaniji has brought shame upon humanity by dragging the daughter of a martyr out of his rally. The family has not got any help in the past 15 years, received hollow promises and got the elbow. Have some shame, give her justice."

The incident and the tweet have created a big hullabaloo in poll-bound Gujarat.

After this came the good news for Rupal Tadvi. The Rupani government announced a four-acre land, Rs 10,000 monthly pension, Rs 36,000 yearly pension and a 200 sq mt residential plot for the family of the martyr.

The Chief Minister hit back at Rahul. He tweeted, "Only the BJP has respected the interests of the soldiers who protect our borders. Rahul Gandhi should stop playing dirty politics in the name of martyrs. It is because of such black deeds that the people have thrown them out of power."

The Chief Minister criticized the Congress for its alleged role in the Adarsh Society issue where a 31-floor apartment building meant to be allotted to war widows was allotted to several politicians, bureaucrats and military officers at below market price. He also criticized Congress' failure to implement the One Rank One Pension scheme.