Facing mounting criticism from ex-defense personnel and political opponents regarding the implementation of the One-Rank-One-Pension (OROP) scheme, the union government on Saturday announced that percentage-based pension will continue to be given until the Anomaly Committee came out with its report.
Saturday’s announcement came exactly a month after the government issued a letter introducing a slab-based system based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for determining disability pension. Facing criticism from all sides, the government had referred the matter to the Anomaly Committee.
Earlier on Saturday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the issue.
In his letter, Gandhi said, "As we celebrate Diwali, let us send this message to our soldiers that our gratitude is expressed both in words and in deed."
Let us show our gratitude to our brave soldiers not only through our words but also through our actions.My letter to the Hon. Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/8J1pLCs54N
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 29, 2016
"Anomalies in the 7th Pay Commission must be addressed at the earliest," he added, also saying, "OROP must be implemented in a meaningful way to satisfy our ex-servicemen."
However, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissed Gandhi’s claims, saying that the slab system was a recommendation of the Pay Review Committee, which the government had not accepted and had referred to the Anomaly Committee. Gandhi, he said, was indulging in ‘’petty politics’’ on the issue.
“I urge Rahul Gandhi to do his homework and not politicise armed forces' sensitive issues for partisan gains," Prasad said.
He added, “There is no new policy initiative undertaken taken by the Narendra Modi government in this regard.”