PM Modi should sack V.K. Singh from his Cabinet: BSP

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Minister of State for External Affairs Retd. General V.K. Singh from his Cabinet for linking ex-servicemen Ram Kishan Garewal with the Congress Party.

BSP leader Sudheendra Bhadauria dubbed Singh's comment as condemnable and objectionable and said that if the Prime Minister does not take action against the Cabinet Minister, who is a habitual offender, then the people of the nation will assume that the latter's remark has his consent.

"I believe that our Prime Minister should sack V.K. Singh from his Cabinet , otherwise people will assume that whatever he is speaking is also the consent of the Prime Minister," he told ANI.

"This is very unfortunate to link a solider or a jawan with a political party. Such comments are condemnable and objectionable. Moreover, General V.K. Singh is used to making such comments. He has been harsh with his speech in the past as well," he added.

On Wednesday, Singh made a controversial statement as he questioned the mental health status of the Grewal, adding that that very issue of OROP should be kept away from politics.

"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," Singh said.

"It was a demand made 40 years ago and this government has fulfilled those demands. Some money was to be given, which the Reddy Commission is rectifying. If you cannot wait for that, then it is definitely wrong," he added.

Yesterday, Singh yet again gave fodder to the opposition saying that the deceased veteran was a Congress worker.

"He was a Congress worker and who fought Sarpanch election on Congress ticket. His suicide is unfortunate," he said.

The minister also raised questions about the manner in which Grewal committed suicide saying, "Also, how did he procure Sulpha tablets and who gave it to him?"

In response, the Congress asserted that the Centre is hard at work to tarnish the memory of the ex-serviceman.

"Modi ji has unleashed the full might of Gen V.K.Singh, M.L.Khattar, Anil Vij & Co. to tarnish the memory of Subedar Ramkishan. Utterly deplorable," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said.

One Rank One Pension, a longstanding demand of ex-servicemen, grants retired armed forces personnel pension parity with officers and jawans of the same rank who are retiring now.

The ex-serviceman had participated in protests over OROP and his fellow-protesters today asked leaders not to politicise the issue. A group of ex-servicemen say the OROP scheme implemented by the government last year fails to meet key expectations.

Grewal consumed poison on Tuesday. However, the cause behind his suicide is yet to be ascertained.

The 69-year-old former jawan was protesting over the OROP issue at Jantar Mantar in Delhi when he committed suicide on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day mortal remains of Grewal, who committed suicide over the OROP issue were consigned to flames as his last rites were perfumed at his native village in Bhiwani, Haryana.