Army welfare fund voluntary: Manohar Parrikar

He said a scheme was being formulated to give the benefits to the martyrs. The fund was started by Parrikar.

New Delhi, Oct 25 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said the Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties is a voluntary donation and "no one's neck" should be held for it.

Asked about the row surrounding Hindi movie "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" producer Karan Johar being asked to pay Rs 5 crore to the fund, Parrikar said: "Army battle casualty fund is a voluntary donation because many people in India have been requesting us that they want to donate to jawans, shahids (martyrs) who lost their life."

He said a scheme was being formulated to give the benefits to the martyrs. The fund was started by Parrikar.

"It is like the Chief Minister's drought relief fund or flood relief fund.

"It is a voluntary donation and we therefore are not concerned with anyone demanding something to be donated to that...

"Basically, the concept is voluntary donation, and not holding the neck of someone (forcing)," the minister said.

The MNS, which was opposed to Karan Johar employing Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, agreed to the film's release if the producers agreed to pay Rs 5 crore for the army welfare fund.

IANS