Monday, 31 October 2016
Rahul demands meaningful implementation of OROP
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned the Narendra
Modi government’s resolve to work for soldiers’ welfare, asking the
Prime Minister to first implement the ‘one rank, one pension’ scheme in a
meaningful way and redress their pay anomalies and other grievances.
Mr. Gandhi wrote to Mr. Modi saying he was saddened at the decisions of
the government taken in the last few weeks “which are far from
reassuring the soldiers and has caused them pain instead”.
Steps should be taken to send a message to soldiers on Diwali expressing
“our gratitude both in words and in deed”, Mr. Gandhi said in his
letter to the Prime Minister who has launched a campaign through which
people can send their Diwali greetings and messages to soldiers guarding
the nation’s frontiers to boost their morale.
The Prime Minister will celebrate this Diwali with ITBP personnel at one of the remotest border posts in Uttarakhand.
“Just days after our soldiers conducted the surgical strikes, the
disability pension system was converted to a new slab system, that in
many instances drastically reduces the pension received by these brave
men in case of a disability,” the Congress leader said.
“OROP must be implemented in a meaningful way to satisfy ex-servicemen
and the anomalies in the 7th Pay Commission must be addressed at the
earliest, because soldiers should not have to struggle to claim what is
surely due to them on behalf of a grateful nation,” Mr. Gandhi said,
claiming that some decision of the government have “adversely affect the
morale of our armed forces”.
The Prime Minister had earlier accused the Congress of not taking the
OROP issue seriously by earmarking a paltry sum of Rs. 500 crore for it.
Mr. Gandhi said, “As a responsible democracy we must make sure that the
brave soldiers who put their lives on the line for each one of us, feel
the love, support and gratitude of 125 crore people.”
“I therefore urge you, Prime Minister, to ensure that our soldiers get
their due whether it is regarding compensation, disability pension, or
parity with civil employees,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi said that the rollout of the 7th Pay Commission continues to
keep the defence forces at a disadvantage and further exacerbates the
disparity between them and civil employees.
“As we celebrate Diwali, and rejoice in the victory of light over
darkness, let us send this message to our soldiers that our gratitude is
expressed both in words and in deed. This is the very least we owe to
those who give up their today to secure our tomorrow,” the letter
further said.
Mr. Gandhi greeted the Prime Minister on Diwali and hoped the new year
brings peace, prosperity and happiness for the people of the country.
He told the Prime Minister that the soldiers risked their lives each day
to defend the nation and “it is our duty to show them that we care for
them and their families, not only through our words, but also through
our actions”.
Mr. Gandhi also accused the government of downgrading the status of
military officers vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts through a letter
of October 18, 2016.
He said the OROP implemented by government does not fully meet the
genuine demands of ex-servicemen and they have been forced to come out
on the streets to make their voice heard on this vital issue.
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