In a charged speech at a public gathering in Haryana’s Bhiwani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the opposition, accusing them of disrespecting the Indian military’s legacy and exploiting the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for political mileage.
PM Modi evoked the memory of the 1962 Indo-China war, alleging that the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress party had unfairly blamed the military leadership under then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for India’s defeat. “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, asserting a longstanding pattern of undermining the armed forces.
Continuing his critique, Modi accused the opposition of harboring a vendetta against the military, even in contemporary times. He accused them of seeking opportunities to belittle the armed forces, citing their handling of the OROP issue as a prime example.
Modi lambasted the opposition for what he portrayed as hollow promises towards veterans, particularly concerning OROP. He alleged that the Congress had resorted to superficial gestures, such as throwing currency notes, without genuine intent to address 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 emphasized, positioning his government as the true advocate for military veterans’ rights.
The Prime Minister’s address in Haryana underscores the ongoing political discourse surrounding national security and military welfare in India. By directly confronting the opposition, Modi aimed to reaffirm his government’s commitment to upholding the honor and dignity of the armed forces.
Modi’s remarks are expected to fuel further discussion and scrutiny on issues related to national security and military welfare, shaping the narrative in the run-up to the upcoming elections.
