Former IAF chief warns against attempts to create rift in armed forces over OROP

In a significant move, the previous commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal (Retd) RKS Bhadauria, cautioned against attempts by politicians to drive a political wedge between officers and jawans over the “one rank, one pension” problem.

He was speaking to the members of the Air Force Association, a group of IAF veterans that he leads.

Air Chief Marshal (Retd) RKS Bhadauria urged the mostly Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans in attendance to refrain from engaging in any political activity or participating in agitations over issues related to the armed forces.

“I got more concerned in the last one-odd week when a different twist to this is being given in terms of creating a wedge between officers and men. That officers are getting more (in the OROP) which is taking a political colour,” ACM Bhadauria (retd) said today.

His remarks come shortly after a video of Congressman Rahul Gandhi that became widely popular in defence circles in which it was stated that while officers make up the majority of the fighting forces, they receive more financial perks from the OROP scheme than jawans.

“We must stay away from this. There is nothing like this, there is no merit in these arguments. I am aware of every single anomaly and case that has been taken up…I must clearly spell out that in these political times, we must stay away from politics of it. Whatever is correct and justified, which needs to be taken up, must be taken up through the right channels. That is the only way result comes, that is the only way the issue will get addressed,” he said.

In his remarks to the veterans, he mentioned several irregularities that have arisen in the schemes, noting “one is from the Pay Commission and all its anomalies and the other is some One Rank One Pension (OROP)-related abnormalities that have all been taken up by the Service with the Ministry. It is still in the process even though it is taking longer to be resolved.

Veterans were awarded the OROP system, which means that everyone retiring from the same rank will receive the same pension regardless of when they left the armed forces.

(With agency inputs)