Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) on Wednesday said that the NDA Government should take a decision on One Rank, One Pension (OROP) as soon as possible.
According to sources, RSS is of the opinion that a commission should be formed to solve controversial sides of matter.
Earlier today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, BJP President Amit Shah, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu were in the RSS- BJP coordination committee meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Working President Praveen Togadiya.
OROP scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country.
It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders of the BJP began a crucial three-day coordination meet with the RSS top brass to discuss a host of issues including the ‘one rank one pension’ demand raised by army veterans.
Among those who attended the Sangh meet were finance minister Arun Jaitley, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, transport minister Nitin Gadkari, urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu, chemicals and fertilisers minister Ananth Kumar, health minister JP Nadda in addition to other Union ministers.
BJP chief Amit Shah was also present. During the exercise, issues like spread of the organisation, census figures, and the recent agitation of Patidars (Patels) in Gujarat are expected to come up for discussion.
The meeting has acquired significance as it comes against the backdrop of ruling BJP involved in a bitter confrontation with the Opposition over the contentious land bill issue and the upcoming Bihar polls.
93 main functionaries of the RSS and its 15 affiliates are expected to “exchange notes” over relevant issues during the meeting. The participation this time is almost double the attendance at such events in the past.
