Friday, March 20, 2009

Advani picks up gauntlet for ex-servicemen

BS Reporter/ New Delhi March 20, 2009, 1:04 IST
The demand for one-rank, one-pension (OROP) raised by ex-servicemen has taken on a political hue with the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA’s) prime ministerial candidate, L K Advani, promising that the BJP would fulfill this demand if voted to power.

Addressing retired soldiers in the capital on Thursday, Advani said the current policy of different pensions for two individuals retiring after equal length of service and from the same rank is “illogical.”

Under the existing system, a havaldar who retired before January 2006 receives Rs 5,239 as pension, but another soldier of the same rank and who retired after 2006 receives Rs 8,030. The BJP would make the OROP demand a part of its election agenda and would “insist” that its NDA allies would approve of this demand, said Advani.

India’s national security and the honour of the tri-services, which provides that security is paramount for the BJP, as reflected in its “costly” decision to conduct nuclear tests soon after coming to power in 1998, said Advani.

Similarly, despite the so-called burden on the exchequer due to the implementation of the OROP, the BJP would go ahead since the “problem is not about inadequacy (of money) but of inequity,” he added.

So far, political parties have taken note of the OROP demand, but it has remained only in their election manifestos. The Congress too had listed it in its 2004 manifesto, but the United Progressive Alliance government did not fulfill the demand.

In a report tabled in Parliament by the Standing Committee on Defence, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it’s “unfeasible to accept the (OROP) demand” due to “additional financial liability and repercussions elsewhere.”

As per MoD estimates, instead of Rs 460 crore an annum allotted for providing pension for ex-servicemen, Rs 1,200-1,300 crore would be spent if the OROP demand is met.
Advani picks up gauntlet for ex-servicemen

Dear All,
After all politicians are and shall remain politicians. LKA is drawing mileage from our fight for 'OROP' without making any firm commitment. Mark what he has said as quoted by Gen Kadyan:
"They would be able to pursuade their allies (meaning NDA) and implement OROP."
This is no commitment leave alone firm commitment. Afterwards he would say we tried to pursuade but the allies do not agree!
When a politicians says 'yes' he means perhaps, when he says 'perhaps' he means 'No' and when he says 'No' he is not a politician.
So beware of the politicians.
Lt Col MG Kapoor
Advocate

No comments:

Disclaimer

The contents posted on these Blogs are personal reflections of the Bloggers and do not reflect the views of the "Report My Signal- Blog" Team.
Neither the "Report my Signal -Blogs" nor the individual authors of any material on these Blogs accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused (including through negligence), which anyone may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of use of or reliance on information contained in or accessed through these Blogs.
This is not an official Blog site. This forum is run by team of ex- Corps of Signals, Indian Army, Veterans for social networking of Indian Defence Veterans. It is not affiliated to or officially recognized by the MoD or the AHQ, Director General of Signals or Government/ State.
The Report My Signal Forum will endeavor to edit/ delete any material which is considered offensive, undesirable and or impinging on national security. The Blog Team is very conscious of potentially questionable content. However, where a content is posted and between posting and removal from the blog in such cases, the act does not reflect either the condoning or endorsing of said material by the Team.
Blog Moderator: Lt Col James Kanagaraj (Retd)

Resources