Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today announced statewide protests in all the districts today over ex-serviceman Subedar Ram Kishen Grewal’s suicide and the “shabby and inhumane” treatment meted out to the deceased jawan’s family members.
Lashing out at the Narendra Modi-led central government in general and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in particular, he said both were responsible for Subedar Grewal’s suicide.
“Party workers have been directed to stage dharnas in all the districts of Punjab, while I will personally lead a delegation of state Congress leaders to submit a memorandum to the Governor regarding the misbehaviour of the police with the ex-serviceman’s family,” Amarinder said at a press meet here.
He unequivocally condemned the “high-handedness” of Delhi police regarding the treatment it meted out to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as well as the family of Subedar (Retd) Grewal, who committed suicide by consuming poison at a park in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.
Grewal, in his suicide note, has reportedly blamed the “prolonged delay” over the ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP) settlement for his decision behind the extreme step. Amarinder alleged that despite having “repeatedly promised” OROP for ex-servicemen during his 2014 election campaign, Modi “went back on his word” after becoming the prime minister.
The Punjab congress chief also alleged that the suicide of Subedar Grewal reflected the “complete apathy” of the NDA government towards the plight of the soldiers.
“It has led to total demoralisation of the forces which are feeling gravely let down after the incident,” he said.
“On the one hand, you are trying to glorify the achievements of our defence forces and even trying to make political capital out of these, and on the other, you are demoralising by not giving OROP and downgrading their status in comparison to their civilian counterparts,” Amarinder said.