The Defence Minister said this government is very sensitive towards ex-servicemen, and that is why they implemented OROP after 43 years
Under fire from the opposition, defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday reached out to the soldiers saying the Modi-led government is sensitive to the issues of the ex-servicemen, and assured the nation that the issues related to One Rank One Pension (OROP) will be resolved within two months time.
"Only one lakh people have not got full benefit of this (OROP) as of yet. There are some technical and documentation issues. I want to assure you that we will sort them out in the next two months", Parrikar said while addressing a function to mark the martyrdom anniversary of the 1947 war hero Major Somnath Sharma at Budgam.
The Defence Minister said this government is very sensitive towards ex-servicemen, and that is why they implemented OROP after 43 years. "I bow before the brave jawans and assure them that the nation stands by you…. This government is sensitive towards ex servicemen. We gave OROP which was not granted for the last 43 years", he said.
Elaborating, Parrikar said the government is incurring Rs 7,500 crore and Rs 11,000 crore arrears have been under OROP. "On an average there is 23 to 24 per cent increase in pension… I want to assure the ex servicemen…. I do not say everything will be perfect. But I assure you that I will try to give more solutions," he said.
Hitting out at Pakistan, defence minister said the neighboring country has resorted to proxy war after it was defeated in the conventional wars. "Pakistan has always been trying to occupy Jammu and Kashmir. We consider Jammu and Kashmir and its people as integral part. After losing conventional wars, Pakistan started proxy war in the paradise", he said.
Accusing Pakistan of fomenting unrest, Parrikar said that for the last four months, anti-social elements at the behest of neighboring country have dealt a serious blow to the economic conditions of hardworking and peaceful Kashmiris. "This place is so beautiful. Here tourism and IT has lot of scope and potential. But peace is prerequisite for that", he said.
Paying homage to Major Somnath Sharma, the minister pledged to fight the proxy war and defeat terrorism. "I appeal peaceful people of Jammu and Kashmir to shun violence and help in the nation building," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Manohar Parrikar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}