"Government Committed to One Rank One Pension," Says PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that his government is committed to the long-awaited One Rank One Pension for ex-servicemen.

In a tweet this morning, the PM said, “On OROP- the Govt is committed to OROP & there’s no doubt about it.”

Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the ‘One Rank One Pension’ “was on its way” but he cannot promise a date for its implementation.

“Two or three steps remain so can’t give you a specific time but it is on its way,” the minister said, adding, “There cannot be a date for OROP as it involves various departments.”

An event attended by Mr Parrikar in Pune on Thursday was boycotted by two decorated war veterans who said they were disillusioned by the non-implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP, which will ensure that defence personnel who retire at the same rank and with the same length of service, will get equal pension, irrespective of when they retired.

At the Pune event, organised to honour war heroes, Mr Parrikar had said, “My ministry has completed all formalities and OROP will be implemented.” He also requested that the issue not be “politicised.”

The Congress’ Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of dragging its feet on OROP after his party’s government announced its implementation in its last Budget before the national election, allocating Rs. 500 crore.