Amid indications that the NDA government may implement the “one rank, one pension” scheme for ex-servicemen to coincide with the completion of its first year in office, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will meet representatives of former military personnel and war widows at the party headquarters here on Saturday. The move is seen as an attempt to claim credit for the “one rank, one pension” scheme as it was the UPA government which had given in-principle approval for the scheme towards the end of its second term. [related-post] Rahul, on his part, too had in the past supported the “one rank, one pension” demand and had promised to make all efforts to make it a reality. The demand of the soldiers was accepted by the UPA government and announced again by the NDA government after it came to power last year. The UPA government had even allocated Rs 8,300 crore budget for the scheme. But the soldiers are yet to get the benefits. Congress leaders said that ex-servicemen are unhappy over the non-implementation of the scheme. Congress has alleged that PM Narendra Modi has gone back on his word after promising to implement the scheme.
