CWC demands implementation of OROP in meaningful way

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making forum, on Monday passed a resolution demanding that the Narendra Modi government implement the One Rank One Pension scheme in a meaningful way and address all grievances of ex-servicemen.

"During Congress government's period, the Parliament had in February 2014 approved a definition for OROP, and process to implement it was started. However, the Modi government has diluted it. Now, it has become One Rank Many Pensions. We want the government to redress payment anomalies and extend OROP to the ex-servicemen as per their wish," said Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala.

He said that the CWC also asked the government to correct its orders about a cut in the disability pension and the disparity between civilian and military grades.

Former army Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal allegedly committed suicide here on Wednesday over OROP, sparking off a political storm.

The CWC lauded the efforts of the army in carrying out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, it condemned the Modi government's attempt to make political capital from the issue, Surjewala said.

"The committee condemned the attempts to politicise the bravery of Indian soldiers. Ministers in Modi government have been lying that surgical strike was carried out for the first time in 68 years. It actually amounts to an insult to the soldiers," he said.

--IANS

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