Live: Modi Ji Stop Lying and Implement OROP, Says Rahul Gandhi

Ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Garehwal committed suicide allegedly over the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue.

Sameeksha Khare
India
Updated:
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi along with party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia being detained during the protest. (Photo: PTI)
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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi along with party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia being detained during the protest. (Photo: PTI)
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  • Some government officials have said it needs to be probed if the veteran was instigated to end his life.
  • TMC leader Derek O’Brien and Congress’ Deepender Singh Hooda visited the family’s residence before Grewal’s funeral.
  • Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal reached Bhiwani to attend the funeral along with several other leaders.
  • Haryana government announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and a government job for family.
  • Kejriwal announced Rs 1 Crore compensation for the family and said will fight against government for OROP.
  • Grewal’s son said the Delhi Police detained them on Wednesday and beat them up.
  • BJP MP Satyapal Singh said the Delhi Police mishandled the situation.
  • Meanwhile, MoS Rijiju said how the police handles a situation is to their discretion and ministers don’t intervene.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday met ex-serviceman in Delhi, and after an hour-long meet speaking to the media trained his guns on PM Narendra Modi for his government’s lack of seriousness towards the OROP issue.

Narendra Modi Ji you should stop lying and work to implement OROP. It is the right of armed forces personnel and the government will have to give it. I met 60-80 experienced people (ex-servicemen) today. They say that what Modiji is calling OROP is nothing more than a pension enhancement.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. (Photo: PTI)

Earlier, a massive political drama erupted after ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide allegedly over the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue on Wednesday.

A day after Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were detained along with several other leaders for trying to enter the hospital to meet the veteran’s family, they went to Bhiwani to attend Grewal’s funeral on Thursday.

BJP ally Shiv Sena also sided with the Congress and AAP, condemning the conduct of the policeman at the OROP agitation.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi has been released by police after being in detention for almost two hours.

In an odd show of support, the Shiv Sena sided with the Congress and AAP leaders and condemned the conduct of policemen at the OROP agitation.

Action of Delhi Police ‘condemnable and shameful’.
Shiv Sena

Rahul Gandhi was taken to Tughlak Road police station.

Rahul who was seen sitting in the car with Jyotiraditya Schindia told reporters that the police detained him citing section 144 of the IPC (unlawful assembly)

we have been waiting in the car for half an hour. we have only one concern, the family member of the ex-servicemen were mistreated, they were dragged to the police station. It affects the morale of the Indian army that is deployed at the border. I just want them to apologize. I don’t mind sitting here for as along as I need to.

Rahul Not Detained But Taken Back Home: Police Sources

Quoting police sources, CNN News 18 reported that Rahul hasn't been detained but taken back home.

Police was Given Notice About the Peaceful OROP Agitation: Sujrewala

Congress Spokesperson, Randeep Sujrewala told the media, that Rahul Gandhi was detained despite the Delhi Police’s knowledge about the peaceful march.

We had given notice to Delhi police for this march, this was a peaceful march.

Rahul Detained for the Third Time in Two Days

Citing security concerns, Delhi Police detained Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi from Jantar Mantar, where he was protesting over the centre’s inaction over ex-servciceman Ram Kishan Grewal’s suicide.

Congress’ Candle-Light March

Congress late on Thursday took out a candle-light march for ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal.

Union Minister for Home, Kiren Rijiju, tweeted that Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India had removed OROP benefits in 1973 and so far, no Congress leader showed any inclination towards implementing it until the Modi regime.

Congress Leader Detained

Congress leader and former Union Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal has been detained.

Crime Branch to Head Probe on Suicide

The Delhi Police have handed over the investigation of Ram Kishan Grewal’s suicide case over to the Crime Branch.

‘Shaheed’ Are Those Who Lay Down Lives at Border: Khattar

Commenting on the ex-serviceman's suicide case, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar told mediapersons:

‘Shaheed’ (martyrs) are those who lay down their lives at the border, not those who commit suicide.
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VK Singh Says Veteran’s Issue Was With Bank and Not OROP

After triggering a controversy on Wednesday by saying that the "mental state" of Grewal needs to be probed before drawing conclusions about his extreme action, VK Singh has now said his death is unfortunate.

He was a Congress worker who fought Sarpanch election on Congress ticket. His suicide is unfortunate. His issue was with the bank and not with OROP. Also, how did he procure Sulpha tablets and who gave it to him?... If he had reached out to us and didn’t get help, then it was our fault.
BJP Leader VK Singh

Modi ji is Lying About OROP: Surjewala

Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala accused the government of lying about implementing OROP, questioning why would a protest be held if it has been implemented.

The Modi government should apologise to the Indian Armed Forces and Ramkishan Grewal’s family for questioning his mental state. Yes we are ready to do politics to protect Ramkishan Grewal’s family and for the respect of our armed forces. If OROP has been granted why are soldiers protesting? This shows Modi Ji is lying.

Rs 1 Crore Compensation From Delhi Government

Delhi Chief Minister met the veteran’s family in Bhiwani and has announced a compensation of Rs 1 Crore for Grewal’s kins.

Talking to reporters in Bhiwani with Grewal’s son by his side, Kejriwal said:

We won’t let his death go to waste and will fight against the government for OROP... Yes, we’re politicising the issue but for our soldiers’ rights.

Parrikar Promises to Solve OROP Issues

Addressing the media, Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar said the government will soon solve the technical issues with OROP.

One lakh people are yet to get full benefit of OROP, there is some technical issue in it,we will soon sort out the paperwork.

Delhi Police Assaulted Us: Grewal’s Son

Grewal’s son said that the Delhi Police had kept the family members detained till evening on Wednesday and beat them up.

Funeral Attended By Political Leaders

The funeral of Grewal is underway and is being attended by a bevy of political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, Kamal Nath and Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien.

Grewal’s funeral in Bhiwani. (Photo: ANI)

BJP Reacts to Leaders’ Detention By Delhi Police

When asked about political leaders being detained on Wednesday, BJP MP Satyapal Singh said Delhi Police mishandled the situation.

I think Delhi Police should have handled the situation better, they completely mishandled it.
Satyapal Singh, BJP MP

Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said that they’ve asked the Delhi Police for a report on the detentions.

Meanwhile, MoS Kiren Rijiju asked the Opposition not to make a political issue out of the veteran’s tragic death and said that ministers don’t intervene in what the police does.

How Delhi Police handles an issue on ground is according to the law and to their discretion, ministers don’t intervene.
Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home Affairs

Haryana Govt Gives Rs 10 Lakh to Family

Haryana Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar has announced a Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family and a government job to Grewal’s kin.

Political Battleground in Bhiwani

Ex-armyman Grewal’s residence in Bhiwani has been swarmed by several political leaders from Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The veteran’s body lies on the ground outside his house and has been surrounded by a chaotic crowd as the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath and many other leaders reached the family’s residence.

Opposition parties have waged a war of words against the government’s inaction regarding One Rank One Pension (OROP) after Grewal allegedly took his life over the issue.

(Photo: ANI)

Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal to Attend Funeral

After all the political drama that ensued on Wednesday, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has reached ex-serviceman Grewal’s residence in Bhiwani, Haryana to attend his funeral. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also going to Bhiwani for the processions, reported CNN News18.

I don’t mind being in police custody, but why did police take his family in custody. Arrogance led to Congress’ downfall and BJP will suffer the same fate.
Arvind Kejriwal

Many other political leaders from Congress and Trinamool Congress are already there at Grewal’s residence.

Ram Kishan Grewal’s funeral to be held on Thursday in Bhiwani, Haryana. (Photo: ANI)

Political Leaders Visit Family in Haryana

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien paid a visit to ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal's family at his residence in Bhiwani, Haryana on Thursday. Congress’ leader from Haryana Deepender Singh Hooda has also reached the family home.

Deepender Singh Hooda at the ex-armyman’s residence in Bhiwani, Haryana. (Photo: ANI)

Derek O'Brien said it’s sad that the family was manhandled on Wednesday.

Double grieving happening here - one for their loss, other for what happened yesterday. Family shouldn’t have been manhandled.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien
Derek O’Brien at the ex-armyman’s residence in Bhiwani. (Photo: ANI)

He added that if Rahul Gandhi or Kejriwal wanted to meet the family they should have been allowed.

BJP Retorts, Asks Opposition What They Did For OROP

Congress and AAP have been slamming the government for inaction over the OROP issue and soldiers not getting the pay hike promised to them.

Bharatiya Janta Party has replied saying that OROP has been successfully implemented and the party’s leader Nalin Kohli said:

In 1973 Indira Gandhi ji did away with OROP, Rajiv Gandhi did nothing, Narsimha Rao did nothing.

Holding the Modi government responsible for the suicide of Grewal, Congress leaders AK Antony and Surjewala demanded that the Prime Minister apologise to the nation and the armed forces for “misleading them” that OROP has been implemented.

However, Defence Ministry sources said Grewal had received a lesser amount as part of the One Rank-One Pension scheme under the 6th pay commission due to an error in calculation by the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Bhiwani district of Haryana, a matter which was being looked into.

Grewal wrote a letter addressed to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 31 October before committing suicide, pleading the government to pay heed to their demands, however, he was not able to deliver it.

There is a handwritten note at the bottom of the letter, which reads: “I am laying down my life for my motherland and other brave soldiers.”

Govt Raises Doubt Over The Circumstances of Suicide

Government officials said on Wednesday that the matter needed to be investigated to probe if the ex-Armyman was instigated to end his life, reported Times of India.

The report quoted a government official as saying:

His letter dated 31 October and his suicide on 1 November raises several questions. It also demands serious investigation about who was with the deceased when he took the extreme step, who provided the poison and if anybody may have taken advantage of his troubled mind to provoke him to take the extreme step.

(With inputs from Times of India)

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Published: 03 Nov 2016,09:23 AM IST

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