New Delhi: A combative Rahul Gandhi on Friday stepped up pressure on the government over OROP scheme, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “lying” on the issue and insisting that the retired defence personnel were now getting only “enhanced pension” and that OROP demand was yet to be fulfilled.
The Congress vice-president asserted that OROP was the right of military personnel and the government “will have to give it”.
“What PM claims as One Rank-One Pension is actually pension enhancement and not OROP. PM should stop lying on the issue,”he said. “OROP is the right of the armed forces personnel and government will have to give it,” Rahul, who was detained thrice over two days during protests over the suicide by Army veteran Ram Kishan Grewal, told reporters.
Accusing the government of waiving loans of a staggering Rs 1.10 lakh crore for 15 big industrialists, Mr Gandhi said it has nothing to give to soldiers and farmers.
“The government has not given respect and the right which is due to soldiers. If it had, why these ex-servicemen been protesting for the last 509 days at Jantar Mantar,” he said after meeting around 60-70 military veterans.
