Ex-serviceman suicide: Ram Kishan Grewal was OROP recipient, says Defence Ministry

Ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who allegedly committed suicide over OROP, was one of the recipients of benefits under the revised pension scheme, Defence Ministry sources said on Wednesday as his death sent political temperature soaring in the national capital.

However, Ministry sources said Grewal had received a lesser amount as part of the One Rank-One Pension scheme under the 6th pay commission due to an error in calculation by a bank branch in Bhiwani district of Haryana, a matter which was being looked into.

They said the deceased former soldier had not sought an appointment with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar either at his office or home.

Meanwhile, Parrikar on Wednesday asserted the government was committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen and said a total of Rs 5,507.47 crore has been disbursed under the scheme.

Giving details of the OROP implementation so far, Parrikar said there were 20,63,763 beneficiaries before July 2014.

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He said 19,12,520 pensioners have been paid the first instalment and 1,50,313 cases are pending verification and authentication of beneficiaries.

Tweeting the details of the OROP, Parrikar said Rs 3886.88 crore had been disbursed as the first instalment. He said 11,33,100 people have received the second instalment of Rs 1,604.59 crore has been disbursed.

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“Government is committed to ex-servicemen’s welfare,” he said.

Meanwhile, the group of ex-servicemen, which has been leading the protest at Jantar Mantar over OROP, distanced itself from Grewal’s suicide and said the issue should not be politicised.

They also said all politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has tweeted on the issue, should stay away and the government should sort out the OROP “mess”.

“The suicide did not take place at Jantar Mantar. His friends had informed the police about the suicide bid but it was too late. He was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital from where they wanted to bring the body to Jantar Mantar, which we refused,” Col Anil Kaul (Retd), media advisor to United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement (UFESM), told PTI.

He said the group did not believe in violence.