OROP suicide row: VK Singh kicks up controversy, says ex-serviceman’s mental state needs to be investigated

Union minister VK Singh on Wednesday sparked a controversy by saying that the mental state of ex-service man Ram Kishan Grewal, who allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday, needs to be investigated.

“Reason for his suicide being reported is #OROP, don't know what his mental state was, need investigation,” said ANI quoted VK Singh as saying.

He also slammed Rahul Gandhi and asked him to not politicise the issue. “OROP should be kept away from politics, that will be better. Rahul Gandhi should not politicise this,” said Singh.

“OROP should be kept away from politics, that will be better. Rahul Gandhi should not politicise this,” he said.

He went on to state that the Centre had accepted the long-pending demands of the agitating veterans and there was no need to get into “what one is saying for 4 paisa.”

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Singh’s comments drew sharp reactions from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Congress.

“Shame on u VKSingh. He twice got medals from President and once from COAS. He was a decorated soldier,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Senior Congress leader RPN Singh said it was “unbecoming” of a former army chief to bring the mental state of a deceased veteran into question.

“It is unfortunate that a former army chief is raising such questions,” the former Union Minister said. 

(With PTI inputs)