Government can't be indifferent to veterans and mark 50 years of '65 war: Amarinder Singh

CHANDIGARH: Demanding immediate implementation of OROP scheme, Congress leader Amarinder Singh today said when the country is celebrating 50 years of the 1965 war and glorifying achievements of its armed forces, the government cannot treat the veterans with "such an appalling apathy and indifference".

"When the country is celebrating the golden jubilee of the 1965 war and glorifying the performance and achievements of its armed forces, the government cannot treat the veterans, who won that war for the country, with such an appalling apathy and indifference," he said.

"While on one hand we are celebrating their achievements, on the other hand we are showering lathis on them just because they are asking what was promised to them long ago," said the Lok Sabha MP.

The Congress leader said that most of those who fought the 1965 war are the ones seeking OROP.

Announcing the OROP scheme would be the "best tribute" to our veterans and an acknowledgement by a grateful nation towards its soldiers, he said.

The 1965 war's golden jubilee celebrations will kick off from Friday.