OROP suicide: People are trying to bounce for electoral gains, says V.K. Singh

Minister of State for External Affairs and former Army Chief V.K. Singh on Thursday asserted that it was wrong that people are trying to bounce for electoral gains and politics on the death of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewa, who allegedly committed suicide over the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme.

Singh told media that Grewal was a Congress worker who fought the Sarpanch election on Congress ticket.

"The problems that are coming out are not related with One Rank, One Pension (OROP). The chief officers of the people who were sitting on Dharna at Jantar Mantar said that they have seen them for the first time. He was getting Rs. 22,000 pension and facing problems with the bank. If he had come to us and we wouldn't have helped then we should be blamed. His issue was with the bank and not with the OROP. Also, how did he procure Sulpha tablets and who gave it to him?" he added.

Stressing on the fact that that the OROP scheme should be kept separate from politics, Singh had yesterday said that the mental health status of Grewal is not known.

"See, he committed suicide, nobody knows the reason why. OROP has been shown as the reason, but we do not know the status of his mental health. Let the investigation take place. I have already told that OROP should be kept separate from politics," Singh said.

He added that most aspects of the OROP have been covered and that if someone complains over a few pennies and the delay of a few years, he should not be indulged.

Grewal, the former Army jawan had come to the capital to protest against the government's alleged backtracking on the implementation of the OROP scheme.

The 69-year-old had consumed poison even as he and four others accompanying him were waiting to meet Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to submit a memorandum reiterating their demands on the OROP scheme.