A war of words broke out between the ruling and opposition legislators over giving the status of martyr to ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who had committed suicide in the national Capital on the issue of one rank one pension (OROP).
While the Congress demanded the name of the ex-servicemen to be included in martyr of Haryana and to be mentioned in the obituary resolutions, the ruling BJP maintained that someone who commits suicide cannot be called a martyr.
Haryana Congress legislative Party leader Kiran Choudhry while speaking in the House during the Swarna Jayanti Session demanded that the name of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal should be included in the list of martyr of Haryana.
Grewal’s suicide has triggered a massive political storm in the national capital with opposition accusing the Narendra Modi led Central Government of betraying the ex-servicemen on OROP issue.
Responding to Congress’ demand, Chief Minister Manohar lal said that we should not start a wrong tradition by giving a status of martyr to someone who has committed suicide.
We have given condolences to his family and have also promised to provide help to them, said he.
The leader of opposition and INlD leader Abhay Singh Chautala then questioned the State Government on announcing Rs 10 lakh compensation to Grewal’s family. Chautala said, “If he is not a martyr, then why the Government announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and a Government job to this family.”
Will the government also give financial assistance to the families of those who lose their lives in accidents, asked Chautala.
Replying to this, the Chief Minister said that the Government has full sympathy with the family of Grewal and thus, the compensation was announced.
The Congress, however, pressed for the status of martyr for Grewal with Congress MlA Raghubir Singh Kadiyan saying that it is not a suicide but Grewal has sacrificed his life for a cause.
Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma then said that a soldier can never commit suicide and suicide is a criminal offence.
A day before, the ex-serviceman Grewal was cremated in his native village Bamla in Haryana’s Bhiwani in the presence of hundreds of people including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi CM had announced Rs 1 crore compensation and status of martyr for Grewal, who had allegedly consumed poison at a Delhi park on Tuesday demanding the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme — which, among other measures, ensures equal pension to retired soldiers who served with the same rank and for the same duration. Grewal had retired in 2004 after attaining Subedar rank.
Meanwhile, Haryana Assembly paid tributes to prominent personalities who had expired between the period from the end of the previous session and the beginning of the Swarna Jayanti Session. The members of the House also observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to the departed souls.
Speaker Kanwar Pal, leader of the House and Chief Minister Manohar lal, leader of opposition Abhay Singh Chautala, Haryana ClP leader Kiran Choudhry paid tributes and read out the obituary resolutions.
Those who were paid homage in the House included Dharamvir Yadav, former Minister of Haryana, freedom fighters and martyrs of the state, who sacrificed their lives while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the country.
The House also paid tributes to those brave soldiers, who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Army Camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
Tributes were also paid to two freedom fighters and nine martyrs of Haryana who have made supreme sacrifices of their lives while safeguarding and protecting the unity and integrity of the motherland.