Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said that the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government has changed the 'niyat (intention)' of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for ex-servicemen, which was pending for over 40 years, into 'niti (policy).'
"The demand for One Rank One Pension(OROP) was going on for decades and this government has fulfilled the demand of ex-servicemen in months. The 'Niyat' of OROP was changed into 'Niti' by Modi Government. Our aim is development of the nation and we are moving in that direction," Naqvi told ANI.
With Congress describing government's announcement of 'One Rank One Pension' as a 'betrayal' to the cause of ex-servicemen, Naqvi further said, "Congress has to create a scene in whatever decision the Modi government makes for the welfare of the people. They(Congress) did not do anything in their time so they will never appreciate if others are doing something that was pending for 40 years."
"They can also say that it was their decision which the NDA government has implemented. So we do not give importance to Congress's allegations. Congress has become issueless that's why they are poking at non-issues. They should look at their own scenario before pointing fingers at others," Naqvi added.
The government on Saturday announced the implementation of One Rank One Pension(OROP), for armed forces personnel, ending a long-awaited demand of the ex-servicemen.
"The Government has taken a decision to implement One Rank One Pension (OROP). In simple terms, the OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with same length of service regardless of their retirement," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.