Former Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retired) has issued a cautionary message regarding efforts to foster divisions between officers and jawans (soldiers) in relation to the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) matter.
Speaking at a meeting of the Air Force Association, an organization primarily comprising veterans, of which he serves as the head, RKS Bhadauria expressed his apprehension regarding recent endeavours to depict officers as beneficiaries of more substantial advantages under OROP, potentially introducing a political dimension to the issue.
During his address to the assembly in New Delhi, predominantly composed of veterans from the Indian Air Force, Bhadauria encouraged them to abstain from engaging in political activities or protests related to military affairs.
His remarks came after a video featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi gained widespread attention within defence circles. In the video, Rahul Gandhi asserted that officers were receiving greater financial benefits through the OROP program compared to the jawans, who constitute the majority of the armed forces and were purportedly receiving a lower amount.
"We should refrain from this. Such notions are baseless; there is no substance to these arguments. I am well-informed about every individual irregularity and case that has been brought to light...I must emphasize that during these politically charged times, we must refrain from political involvement in this matter. Any legitimate and justified concerns that need to be addressed should be done through appropriate channels. This is the only way to achieve results and resolve the issue," stated Bhadauria.
Addressing the veterans, he acknowledged that certain inconsistencies had emerged in various schemes, including those linked to the Pay Commission and OROP.
These concerns, he indicated, had been communicated to the Ministry of Defence.
Bhadauria clarified that the extended duration of resolving these issues did not imply that they were being neglected. The OROP initiative was introduced to ensure that veterans retiring from the same rank received an identical pension, regardless of the time of their retirement from the defence forces.
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