I Protest

Ja Accuse

In a recent interview to the Economics Times, Mr. Arun Jeitley made certain uncalled for remarks concerning demand of One Rank One Pension (OROP) by Indian Armed Forces Veterans. I find remarks of Mr. Jeitley misleading, extremely disturbing and unworthy of a minister of Union of India.

Mr. Jeitley made a remark that as Finance Minister he cannot impose unreasonable liabilities on future generations. Implication being that OROP is fiscally imprudent. The Veterans have naturally challenged Jeitley to substantiate his claim, which he and his ministry failed to do and in absence of supporting figures/ data I refuse to buy this bland statement and consider it to be an attempt to mislead the nation for petty political one-up-man-ship.

Second issue is even more important. In the interview Mr. Jeitley attempts to create rift between the soldiers and officers by implying that only soldiers need consideration and officers are really undeserving and recalcitrant. This attempt to drive a wedge between the retired officers and soldiers would be par for the course coming as it does from a person, who or his ancestors, have never had any experience of soldiering except to be beaten conclusively at hustings by Veteran. But this pathetic attempt to break cohesion of veterans who have an umbilical connect with the serving may ultimately impinge on discipline and cohesion of standing army and hence is extremely disturbing as it comes from a minister of Union of India. Moreover it revels unacceptable ignorance about role of military officer via-a-vis his soldiers. Mr. Jeitley needs to be told that welfare of soldier is a responsibility of officer and this includes fighting for the rights of soldier, if need arises. By leading the agitation for OROP the retired officers are merely discharging their duty.

However most serious is the third issue. Mr. Jeitley has clearly pitched his arguments in a manner to project the agitating veterans as 'greedy' so as to turn common citizen against them. While it is open to everyone to have a position on any issue but how can a union minister be justified in projecting demand for OROP as greed when this has been endorsed by Parliamentary Committee and accepted by all politically parties including his own. Moreover he as minister involved in negotiations on OROP ought to be aware of historical fact that Indian veterans were getting OROP till 1973 and pensions of soldiers were not only more than twice that of civilian employees but we're also adjusted annually to match the new pensioner with the older ones. Why were pensions of soldiers and military officers reduced and those of civilian employees enhanced is a question which Mr. Jeitley has a duty to answer. Because Government exists in continuity and new incumbent either change earlier policies or continue with earlier policies and thereby become answerable for their impact. In the instant case Modi government has continued with changes brought about by then Indira Government to the detriment of retired officers and soldiers. Answer to this fundamental change will make it clear to the citizen that politicians in cohorts with civilian bureaucracy have been greedy and have been cheating soldiers since last so many years. Accusing veterans of greedy while hiding these historical facts from the public Mr. Jeitley has clearly attempted to turn common citizen against veterans and soldiers by extension, which, in my considered view, is an act unworthy of Minister of Union of India.