NDA Govt responsible for Army veteran's suicide: Cong leader

The NDA government is responsible for the alleged suicide of retired Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal in New Delhi over the OROP issue, Telangana Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy said today.
He also condemned the detention of AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi who went to meet Grewal's family members.
Reddy, who had served as a senior official in the Indian Air Force, claimed Grewal's alleged suicide has "exposed the non-commitment of NDA Government in implementing the OROP scheme in a meaningful way".
He said the previous Congress-led UPA Government in February 2014 cleared the way for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) plan for the welfare of soldiers, but the BJP-led ruling coalition diluted the revised pension scheme.

"However, the BJP Government completely diluted the scheme by reducing the amounts to 50-60 per cent of what was originally envisaged. The BJP Government has also reduced disability pension for jawans who risked their lives by participating in operations against enemies," he said.
"The BJP Government has also reduced pay and allowances of soldiers vis-a-vis civilians officers under the 7th Pay Commission. For instance, earlier the rank of an Army Brigadier was equivalent to that of an Inspector General of Police. But now it has been scaled down to that of a DIG," the Congress leader said.
Condemning the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Telangana Congress MLC and former AICC Secretary P Sudhakar Reddy alleged that it showed the "dictatorial" attitude of the Modi Government.