Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lampooned the opposition for criticising his government over the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme announced yesterday, and claimed that justice had finally been given to the ex-servicemen after 42 years.
"This matter was pending for over four decades. Everyone had sympathies but justice was not given to our ex-servicemen," said Prime Minister Modi.
"I promised you that I would do it and I am fulfilling the promise that I have made," he added.
Prime Minister Modi also pointed out that the Koshiyari Committee had said that a mere Rs. 300 crores would be sufficient for meeting the financial requirements of OROP but that was not the case.
"I was constantly monitoring the situation. I knew that the OROP won't be solved with only Rs. 300 crores. Rather it would cost the government about to Rs. eight to ten thousand crores.
He also said that people were misguided about the VRS policy, and added that the applied scheme would benefit all the sections of the defence forces.
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"Many people are trying to do politics. Those who didn't do anything for 40 years, have no right to speak on behalf of the jawans," he further said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line of Delhi Metro today.
It is expected that around two lakh people will travel between the two cities on a daily basis.
There are nine stations in this 13.875 km long section, which is an extension of Delhi Metro's Violet Line, currently running from ITO to Badarpur. These are Sarai, NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Ajronda, Bata Chowk and Escorts Mujesar. All these stations are elevated and located on either side of the Delhi-Mathura Road.