Veterans only getting enhanced pension, not OROP, says Rahul; asks PM to stop 'lying'

A combative Rahul Gandhi on Friday stepped up pressure on the government over OROP, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "lying" on the issue and insisting what the retired defence personnel were now getting was "enhanced pension" and that 'One Rank-One Pension' 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 says is One Rank-One Pension is actually pension enhancement and not OROP. PM should stop lying on the issue. "OROP is the right of 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. Grewal had allegedly committed suicide over OROP. An unfazed Gandhi said he was not bothered by his detention.

Accusing the government of waiving loans of a staggering Rs 1.10 lakh crore of 15 big industrialists, 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 at the AICC headquarters.

Gandhi, who has been in the forefront of the protests after Grewal's suicide, accused the government of not "doing justice to soldiers who sacrifice their life for the country."