File Photo: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announcing the One Rank One Pension scheme.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) announced by the Centre will benefit about three lakh ex-servicemen and war widows in Bihar, BJP leader MJ Akbar said today.
"The NDA government's decision to implement OROP proves that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance in this regard has been well meaning and sincere," Mr Akbar told reporters, adding, it will benefit about three lakh ex-servicemen, including a little under one lakh war widows in Bihar.
Mr Akbar, who is BJP's national spokesperson, congratulated PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for resolving the vexed OROP issue within a span of 14-15 months since the NDA came to power and slammed the successive Congress governments for keeping the issue pending for over four decades.
Lashing out at Congress and former defence minister AK Antony for stating that the erstwhile UPA government had taken a decision to implement OROP, he rubbished the claim and said Congress did nothing to fulfill the longstanding demand of ex-servicemen for uniform pension since 1973.
He described as 'big joke' the UPA government setting aside Rs 500 crore for implementation of OROP last year when it would actually require an expenditure between Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 10,000 crore for the purpose.