I have faith in Modi: V K Singh on OROP implementation

Gurgaon, Aug 26: Union minister and former Army Chief General (retd.) V K Singh today said he has firm faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had taken a pledge to implement 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme for ex-servicemen.

Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Singh was talking to reporters at village Bhondsi here after unveiling a statue of Kumarpal Singh, who attained martyrdom on December 19, 2013 while serving in South Sudan under the UN Mission.

General (retd.) Singh, along with Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar, also unveiled a statue of martyr Subedar Kumarpal Singh at the Panchayat Bhawan of village Bhondsi.

He paid floral tributes to the martyrs of First and Second World Wars belonging to Bhondsi at the memorial on Panchayat Bhawan premises. Col. Manish Sharma along with his six colleagues from 8 Raj Rifles Regiment, Delhi to which martyr Subedar Kumarpal was attached, also attended the events.

Addressing a gathering at the Panchayat Bhawan, General (retd.) Singh said a country which remembers its martyrs moves forward on the path of progress and lauded the efforts of residents of Bhondsi.

He said that the names of martyrs up to 1923 were written on India Gate and there was no memorial for martyrs after that in the country. But people of Bhondsi are doing a commendable job by erecting statues and constructing memorial for martyrs belonging to their village, he said.

Reminded that in the past people used to give donations for construction of hostels so the children of martyrs can earn education, he said, "we are more prosperous than before, so we should do more for the families of our martyrs." General (retd.) Singh also honoured the parents and widows of martyrs present in the programme.

He also honoured Yashi Sharma and Payal of the same village for their outstanding performance in sports. Earlier, Sohna MLA Tanwar said that the Prime Minister had given honour to the soldiers and he would also fulfil all the promises made to the soldiers.

PTI