Raising fingers at Centre on OROP unacceptable, says Rijiju

With opposition parties cornering the Centre over implementation of One Rank One Pension, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that while raising questions is legitimate in a democracy, but pointing fingers at the Centre is unacceptable.

"Police has its own way of investigation and ministers cannot guide them on how to do their work. We should not complicate the matter. This incident in which the ex-serviceman committed suicide is really a tragedy," Rijiju told the media.

"If someone dies, it is always sad. And, there is a certain limit to politicising an issue. Every issue cannot be political and we cannot see everything in terms of votebank. If a soldier or commoner dies, it is sad, but raising fingers at the Centre for not implementing OROP is not good," he added.

Grewal, a former army soldier had come to the national capital to protest against the government's alleged backtracking on the implementation of the OROP scheme.

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