Congress had no sympathy for soldiers during their term: Jaitley on OROP

"The UPA was not serious about the OROP issue during their tenure. We worked out on different modalities and approved the OROP demands," Jaitley told mediapersons.

Claiming that it was the NDA government which implemented the OROP, he said: "We decided that the fitments of the pension amount would be reviewed after every five years. OROP's implementation is a big challenge. There are several army men across the country. The benefit reach the ex-servicemen through State Bank of India."

The minister said the "there are errors often on the part of the banks. We are trying to work on fixing them."

He alleged that, "The Congress had no sympathy for the ex-servicemen for 10 years. Their sympathy today is strictly driven by politics."

Speaking about the suicide of ex-serviceman Ram Kishen Grewal over the matter, he said the money was released but may have faced some "procedural problem."

However, Jaitley criticised the Oppositions over their protests and said they are trying to politicise the suicide case.

"It doesn't behove senior national leaders to exploit a tragedy of this kind particularly in the ICUs of hospitals. A more responsible behaviour is expected," Jaitley added.

Earlier in the day, calling the implementation of OROP by  Narendra Modi as 'only a pension enhancement', Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister and said he should stop telling 'lies' over the issue.

"What Modiji is calling One Rank One Pension is only a pension enhancement not One Rank One Pension.So, Modiji please stop lying and implement OROP," Gandhi told media.

Gandhi met ex-servicemen to discuss their concerns over implementation of the OROP.

Gandhi said the proper implementation of the scheme is crucial as it concerns the dignity of the soldiers.

"OROP is not about the money but about the dignity of our soldiers, about justice for our soldiers," he said.

The issue of OROP once again triggered a debate recently after ex-serviceman Ram Kishen Grewal committed suicide over the matter.