Punjab CM Amarinder Singh castigates NDA govt, says ex-serviceman’s family treated inhumanely

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Wednesday castigated the NDA government for the “inhuman and dictatorial treatment” meted out to the family of an ex-serviceman who allegedly committed suicide over the OROP issue.

“Not only were the family members of the deceased illegally detained but they were also beaten up by the police in brazen display of shameful high-handedness and mental depravity, “ Amarinder said in a statement, demanding strict action against the “guilty” officers.

“What could be more “reprehensible” than the fact that the family was not even allowed to see the body of Ram Kishen,” he asked. The Punjab Congress chief also condemned the detention of AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who had gone to meet the bereaved family.

“Acting at the instigation of the Centre, the police acted in an imperious manner to crack down on the family,” he said, adding that the government seemed “hell-bent on covering up its shameful laxity”.

Assering that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had “lost all moral right” to remain in office after the shocking incident, Amarinder said the “abominable” treatment of defence personnel, ex-servicemen and war widows by the defence ministry had hit a “shocking low” under his leadership.

Captain Amarinder said Ram Kishen’s alleged suicide had exposed the defence minister’s “lie” on the implementation of OROP. “Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had just three days back claimed that Rs 5,500 crore had been paid for implementing OROP, the fact of the matter is that what had been implemented by the government was not OROP but a one-time increase in pensions,” Amarinder claimed.