Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the opposition, accusing them of tarnishing the legacy of the Indian military and exploiting the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for political gain.
PM Modi invoked the memory of the 1962 Indo-China war, pointing fingers at the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress party for allegedly scapegoating the military leadership under the leadership of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. “In 1962, when the bubble of Pandit Nehru’s aura burst and we faced defeat at the hands of China, the Congress blamed our military for it,” Modi stated, suggesting a long-standing pattern of disrespect towards the armed forces.
Continuing his barrage, Modi accused the opposition of persistently seeking opportunities to denigrate the military, even in contemporary times. He alleged that the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress party harbor a vendetta against the armed forces, exemplified by their handling of the OROP issue.
Modi lambasted the opposition for what he portrayed as insincere gestures towards veterans, particularly regarding OROP. He alleged that the Congress had resorted to tokenism, symbolized by the act of throwing currency notes, instead of genuinely addressing the concerns of retired armed forces personnel.
“What it means to implement OROP, they (Congress) didn’t understand. We came and implemented OROP properly,” Modi asserted, emphasizing his government’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans.
The Prime Minister’s address in Haryana served as a stark reminder of the ongoing political discourse surrounding national security and military welfare in India. By directly targeting the opposition, Modi sought to portray his government as the true custodian of the military’s legacy and defender of veterans’ rights.
Modi’s remarks are likely to fuel further debate and scrutiny on issues of national security and military welfare, shaping the narrative in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.
