In the wake of alleged suicide by an ex-serviceman over the delay in implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), the Congress on Wednesday sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for misleading the nation.
While party Vice President Rahul Gandhi asked the PM to implement the policy in a justified manner at earliest, former Defence Minister A K Antony cautioned the Government to remove the pay anomalies or things may turn difficult.
The Congress also released an audio clip purportedly the last call of the Subedar to his son claiming that he consumed poison due to the Government's apathy on OROP and that he was near India Gate with some of his Army colleagues who are also fighting for the cause.
Condemning the cause for death of Subedar Grewal, Rahul reiterated to PM that soldiers should not have to struggle to claim their due and that OROP must be implemented in a meaningful way.
Recalling the contents of his letter to Modi four days ago on the same issue, Rahul said he had had questioned Modi Government's resolve to work for soldiers' welfare, asking the Prime Minister to first implement the OROP. Modi had earlier accused Congress of not taking the OROP issue seriously by earmarking a paltry sum of `500 crore for it.
Amid the outrage on the issue, Antony said the PM must apologise to the nation and the armed forces for misleading them on OROP issue. “The Government must implement OROP in toto at earliest and remove pay anomalies, otherwise things will be difficult,” Antony said briefing the media at AICC headquarters soon after Rahul was detained for second time on the day.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the entire nation is ashamed at the way the family of the ex-serviceman is being treated by the Delhi Police and asked the Centre why they were shifted to an undisclosed location.
The Congress Vice President in his letter to PM said he was saddened by the decisions taken by the Government in the last few weeks, “which are far from reassuring the soldiers and has caused them pain instead”.
Telangana Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy and State unit media convenor Bandisudhakar Goud also held BJP-led NDA Government responsible for suicide of Grewal.
Reddy, who himself had served as Flight lieutenant in Indian Air Force (IAF), said the BJP Government has also reduced Pay & Allowances and Protocol of soldiers vis-a-vis Civilians officers under the 7th Pay Commission.