OROP suicide: Rahul asks is it wrong to offer condolences to grieving kin

New Delhi: High political drama unfolded on the streets of central Delhi on Wednesday as the police detained top Opposition leaders trying to meet the family of an ex-serviceman who committed suicide seeking uniform pensions for retired military personnel.

The police said it was forced to act when leaders ignored orders to move away from Ram Manhoar Lohia Hospital to restore medical services, which had got severely affected.

The row has erupted three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent Diwali with soldiers to bolster the Centre’s pro-Army campaign following September’s anti-terror surgical strikes across the LoC. The Centre approved the retiral policy — a major election issue in 2014 — last year and recently paid Rs 5,500 crore as its first instalment, but sections of ex-servicemen say concerns remain.

“I am sacrificing my life for my country and its brave soldiers,” said a note purportedly left by Grewal, a resident of Haryana’s Bhiwani. He was a prominent face of an agitation for OROP.

He was also heard in a pre-suicide clip making similar comments. More drama ensued when the police tried to take Mr Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders around Connaught Place in a police bus, but it was not allowed to move by Congress workers. Finally it was taken to a nearby police station where Mr Gandhi was released.

“I was arrested for doing my job. Is it wrong to offer condolences to the grieving family of a jawan,” the Congress leader asked. He asked the government to apologise to the bereaved family. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock at the detention of her Delhi counterpart.