Political fraternity must stop toying with our soldiers: Defence expert

Asserting that ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal's decision to take his own life over the delay in the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) was not befitting for a soldier, defence expert Col. (retired) D S Grewal called on the political fraternity to stop 'toying' with the army.

Responding to Minister of State for External Affairs and former army chief General (retired) V K Singh's controversial statement of the need to investigate Grewal's mental health, Col. (retired) Grewal told ANI, "You cannot question his mental health as he had fought the sarpanch elections. However the step he took was not befitting for a soldier. Even so, due respects must be paid to him."

"Soldiers are getting disturbed day-by-day, as politics continues to be played over his death. A soldier is a country's asset and he must not be toyed with in this manner. Earlier too, politics was played blatantly over the surgical strikes. A soldier wants to be left alone to do his job as he belongs to the nation, not to any political party," Col. (retired) Grewal added.

General (retired) Singh drew flak for saying, "He has committed suicide. No one knows the reason behind it. OROP is being shown as the reason. What his mental state was we do not know. Let it be probed first. OROP should be kept above politics."

elhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Shame on u VKSingh. He twice got medals from President and once from COAS. He was a decorated soldier."

Seventy-year-old Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide by consuming poison in a park in the New Delhi area on Tuesday evening.