Rahul Gandhi meets ex-servicemen, promises to put pressure on NDA for OROP

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met ex-servicemen at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi amid the growing demands for 'One Rank One Pension'.

After the meeting, Rahul told media persons that his party would mount pressure on the BJP government to implement the scheme at the earliest.

"Their demands have to be met, we had allotted money and decision regarding this was also taken. It's been one year and this has to happen soon. We will put pressure, will raise the issue and insist the

government to implement the scheme soon," he said.

Convenor of Haryana Ex-Servicemen Department, Colonel Rohit Chaudary, highlighted the government's lack of political and bureaucratic will to bring the scheme into effect.

"This demand of one rank one pension has to be given and there are not many hurdles in it. Bureaucratic problem and political unwillingness is displayed here," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his general election campaigns, had promised to implement OROP as soon as the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power. But after one year of the NDA's tenure, the scheme remains on papers.

The Congress Party has accused the government of going back on their words promises.

'One Rank One Pension' has been a long standing demand of ex-servicemen's associations and relates to payment of uniform pension to defence forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same

length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.