Non-fulfilment of OROP promise blot on Centre's head: Scindia

Jhabua (MP), Nov 14: Congress leader and former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today criticised the ruling BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for "not fulfilling" its promise of One Rank One Pension (OROP) and termed it as a blot on its head.

Scindia, who is the party's Chief whip in the Lok Sabha also criticised the Madhya Pradesh government for farmers woes.

"The non-fulfilment of promise of OROP is a blot on the head of the Centre. Jawans are facing troubles at the Centre while farmers were facing problems in the state during the BJP rule," Scindia said addressing a rally in Petlawad where an explosion killed 89 people recently.

He was in Petlawad to campaign for Congress candidate and former Union Minister, Kantilal Bhuria for the Ratlam-Jhabua Lok Sabha by-poll slated for November 21. Referring to September 12 Petlawad explosion, Scindia said that even after 12 hours of the blast, not a single Minister reached the spot to provide relief to the people.

Besides, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan also reached there 20 hours after the incident.

The Congress leader further alleged that Chouhan arrived at the spot as he was aware that by-poll was going to be held in the constituency soon and people will not forgive him if he failed to do so.

He also alleged that the prime accused of the Petlawad blast, Rajendra Kasawa is absconding even after 60 days of the explosion and it appears that the BJP government is "protecting" him. Referring to multi-layered Vyapam scam, he alleged the real accused were moving scott free.

"The one who is able but poor is not getting jobs while the one who is a duffer but rich, got it as he had paid money for it," Scindia alleged in an apparent reference to the Vyapam scam.

PTI