BJP MP demands early implementation of 'one rank, one pension'

NEW DELHI: Demanding early implementation of the 'one rank, one pension' scheme, BJP MP Tarun Vijay today suggested that "privileges" of MPs and MLAs be withdrawn and the money be used to fulfil the long-standing demand of the ex-servicemen if government is facing fund crunch.

Vijay, a member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, called on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and conveyed his strong views on the issue.

In the meeting, the MP told Parrikar that if government was facing financial difficulty, then it should take away the privileges given to MPs and MLAs and the money should be used to implement the ' one rank one pension' scheme.

Later, the BJP MP said the Defence Minister was "very sympathetic" to his demand and fully agreed that the government must act on it.

'One rank, one pension' has been a long-standing demand of the over two million ex-servicemen in the country.

It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Earlier this month, the Defence Minister had assured the ex-servicemen of early implementation of the scheme, saying his Ministry has fast-tracked the work on it.

Vijay also raised the issue of non-revision of disability pension to ex-servicemen. He said though soldiers' basic pension was revised in 2012, the disability pension has not been revised.