NEW DELHI, March 1 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to restore full income tax exemption on disability pensions for soldiers, in the backdrop of a provision in the Finance Bill 2026 that seeks to provide tax benefits only to soldiers invalided out of service due to disabilities attributable to or aggravated by service, excluding those who served and superannuated with disabilities. In a letter written to the minister on February 25, Rahul Gandhi said: "This is the first time since 1922 that disability pensions are being taxed. Disability pensions are meant to provide relief to servicemen who suffer injuries, and should not be thought of as income." The move triggered resentment in military circles, with several veterans wading into the debate saying the discrimination is unjustified and has created two classes of disabled soldiers. Some Opposition parties also criticised the development during the recent Budget session of Parliament. When a disabled serviceman chooses or is requested to continue in service, he or she is selflessly serving India despite sustaining injuries, the Congress leader wrote. "It is insulting to tax what should be praised." He said the issue was brought to his attention by a delegation of veterans, along with another matter relating to adequate funding for the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. The finance bill proposes providing an express statutory exemption for disability pensions in cases where an individual has been invalided out of service due to a disability attributable to or aggravated by that service. htc...