Modi govt betraying Armed Forces by snatching away pension: Cong

The Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of betraying the armed forces by trying to ‘steal’ their pension and accused it of ‘fake nationalism’.

Party general secretary Randeep Surjewala said the Prime Minister should clarify the government’s proposal to lower the pension amount of those officers seeking premature retirement after serving 20 years. “We demand that the PM clarifies his stand on the issue and takes back its anti-Army decision of October 29”, Surjewala said.

“An officer after 20 years of rigorous service, right now gets 50% of their last drawn salary as pension but the government’s new proposal is snatching away 50% of this. For example, if an officer gets Rs 1 lakh as their last drawn salary. Presently, he will get Rs 50,000 as pension but the BJP’s new proposal shall only give the officer Rs 25,000,” he claimed.

While the government sought votes on the sacrifices of soldiers, it would be the first regime to ‘steal the pension’ and prevent alternate career choices for officers who sought early retirement after serving 20 years, he stated.

“This Diwali, Modi exhorted the nation to light a diya for our soldiers, but has ensured darkness in their lives by attempting to reduce their pension by half. If this is not the BJP’s ‘fake nationalism’, then what is it,” he asked.

The new proposal of allowing ‘full pension’ to only those officers who have spent more than 35 years in the armed forces would demoralise the armed forces. In reality, 90% of the Army officers retire before 35 years of service and that’s why the move is a ‘conspiracy’ to deny 90% of officers their full pensions, he said.