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.
- 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.
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.
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)
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
Parrikar Promises to Solve OROP Issues
Addressing the media, Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar said the government will soon solve the technical issues with OROP.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Many other political leaders from Congress and Trinamool Congress are already there at Grewal’s residence.
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.
Derek O'Brien said it’s sad that the family was manhandled on Wednesday.
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:
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:
(With inputs from Times of India)
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