Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 23: Amidst raging controversy on the issue of `One Rank One Pension’ scheme in the Army, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today announced that `OROP’ will most probably be implemented within one month even as he called upon the troops to strengthen Counter-Infiltration Grid along the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and maintain zero infiltration for second consecutive year.
On last day of his two days visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Parrikar voiced concern over high rate of civilian casualties on the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu sector and assured all facilities for the border people. He called for strict surveillance along entire LoC and IB and immediate repair of fencing where it was damaged due to heavy rains or other factors to keep infiltration under complete check.
Addressing ex-servicemen and BJP leaders at Usmaan Club this afternoon before flying back to New Delhi, Parrikar settled the controversy generated by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on `OROP’ by declaring that the scheme would be implemented most likely within one month.
“We are not delaying the scheme. It was the BJP-led NDA Government, which was committed to `OROP’. We have already announced its implementation. There are minor legal hurdles in implementation of the scheme. As soon as these hurdles are removed, the ‘OROP’ will be implemented, mostly likely within a month’s time,” the Defence Minister declared at the meeting, according to the insiders.
Calling upon the ex-servicemen not to get swayed by the rumours, Parrikar without naming Rahul Gandhi, told the ex-servicemen that the time is not far now when the `OROP’ will be a reality.
“We will implement the scheme in totality. We know the welfare of Army soldiers and ex-servicemen very well and we will fulfill our duty,” he said.
Lauding courage and valour displayed by Army soldiers, the Defence Minister said Pakistan has been given befitting reply on LoC and IB and will continue to get that in case of any misadventure on the borders or if it tried to facilitate the infiltration attempts.
He said the militancy is on decline as Army and other security forces have successfully thwarted the infiltration attempts on LoC and IB and hoped that troops would maintain similar trends in the days to come so that the militancy was completely wiped out.
On demand raised by ex-servicemen and BJP leaders in the meeting over protection to the border villagers, who suffered a lot during firing by Pakistan, Parrikar said the civilians have indeed suffered high casualties on the IB and assured that all possible measures have been taken and would be taken to avoid casualties of the civilians in case of border firing.
Representatives of ex-servicemen and prominent BJP leaders including Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga, Ashok Khajuria, Shamsher Singh, Jugal Kishore, Sat Sharma CA, Gagan Bhagat among others were present at the meeting.
Earlier in the morning, Parrikar reached Jammu from Srinagar and flew to Bhimber Gali on the extreme Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri-Poonch sector, where he visited forward posts and met the Army jawans to boost their morale and laud the courage displayed by them in thwarting militant designs to infiltrate into this side. Accompanied by Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh and Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda, the Defence Minister was given detailed briefing on situation prevailing on the LoC and internal areas by 16 Corps GOC Lt Gen KH Singh.
Addressing Army Commanders and jawans in BG sector, Parrikar lauded valour of Army jawans for zero infiltration on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch last year and hoped that they would keep up the tradition this year too.
Asserting that infiltration attempts by the militants shouldn’t be allowed to succeed, Parrikar called upon strengthening Counter-Infiltration Measures along the LoC in view of the Army inputs that several launching pads have been activated on other side of the LoC for infiltration of the militants. He said there was need to keep up the alertness displayed by the Army on the LoC.
The Defence Minister also called for Army-civilian liaison and asked the Army Commanders to give boost to civic-military action programmes so that the people living on the borders were benefited.
In his briefing to the Defence Minister, GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh touched overall security situation, cross – border infiltration, measures on security grid for LoC, counter terrorist operations and counter IED measures in place. He was also shown surveillance equipment being used as part of the surveillance grid.
The Defence Minister was also briefed on the various Sadhbavna projects and initiatives that are being undertaken by the White Knight Corps. The Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh and Army Commander, Northern Command Lt Gen DS Hooda highlighted to the Defence Minister about the villages that are ahead of the fence are devoid of basic amenities in term of schooling and health care and said it was the local Army units, which were providing the necessary assistance in terms of education, community centres, solar lights, holding of regular medical camps as part of Sadhbavna initiatives. Children from these border villages are also taken for various national integration tours on a regular basis.
Parrikar interacted with the troops over a cup of tea to get first hand input of the ground situation. He appreciated the high standards of military discipline and preparedness of the troops and their excellent performance in the difficult terrain and challenging operational environment.
He called upon top brass of the Army to maintain high degree of alert on the LoC to keep militant activities under complete check and prevent infiltration at all costs. GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh told the Defence Minister that Army was on high alert along the LoC with onset of summer and keeping strict surveillance with sophisticated gadgetry, manpower and other equipments to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to infiltrate from the passes, where snow had started melting.
Parrikar called for strengthening anti-infiltration measures and Counter-Insurgency Grid to maintain peace in the Valley.
Sources said Army officers also projected certain demands. The Defence Minister assured the Army Commanders that their all demands will be fulfilled.
From Bhimber Gali sector, the Defence Minister and the Army chief flew to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, where they offered prayers.
Parrikar was received at Panchi helipad by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO AK Sahu, DIG Udhampur-Reasi range Surinder Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Sushma Chouhan and SSP Reasi Sujit Kumar among others.
The Defence Minister walked about one kilometer distance to the holy cave shrine from the Panchi helipad to pay obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi ji. He lauded the developmental works undertaken by the Shrine Board at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan for the pilgrims.
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