A day after a massive political storm refused to subside over the suicide of former Army jawan Ram Kishan Grewal over the contentious “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) scheme, the ex-serviceman was cremated in his native village Bamla, Bhiwani, in Haryana as hundreds of people, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, rushed to attend the cremation. Grewal’s eldest son Dilawar lit the pyre.
As Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Thursday accused the Congress of “playing politics” over the suicide, the Congress hit back saying the Modi Government may see politics when Rahul and others raise issues
involving soldiers “crying for justice” over “denial” of the OROP; but it won’t remain a “mute spectator”.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused Rahul and Kejriwal of indulging in vote-bank politics, saying people are tired of their “dramas”.
In a series of tweets, Rijiju said the Narendra Modi Government was committed to the cause of soldiers and honour of martyrs. “Pls don’t compete to be better dramebaaz. Soldier’s issue is too serious. We live closely with soldiers. Do you know about soldiers’ lifeIJ” Rijiju tweeted.
The cremation of the former soldier turned into a parade of VVIPs on Thursday. Rahul, who travelled by road, spent a few minutes with the grieving family members of Grewal. Other Congress leaders, including former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana party chief Ashok Tanwar, Haryana ClP leader Kiran Chaudhary, Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kuldip Bishnoi, too were present.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal announced Rs 1 crore financial assistance to Grewal’s family. “We are giving Rs 1 crore to the family of Ram Kishan (Grewal) whom we consider a martyr,” said Kejriwal, while talking to the media after the cremation.
Asked about allegations that he was playing politics over Grewal’s death, Kejriwal said, “Yes, we are doing politics. We are doing politics to secure the soldiers’ rights and the Central Government is doing politics to cheat the soldiers.”
TMC’s Derek O Brien too reached the village to attend the cremation. Also present were Krishan lal Panwar, Haryana Transport Minister along with BJP MPs Rattan lal Kataria and Dharambir Singh.
The Haryana Government has announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the Grewal family and also promised a Government job to one of the family members.
Grewal’s son Jaswant alleged that the Delhi Police “kicked and abused” some of his family members on Wednesday before taking them to a police station where they were kept for hours. “No one should suffer the way we have... We are in pain,” he told the media.
Grewal is survived by his widow, five sons and two daughters. Grewal was the village head for five years and was associated with a number of development projects in and around Bamla village.