Congress ‘Politicizing’ Pension Issue; Why Did Its Government Not Restore It Earlier; Himachal CM

GG News Bureau

Shimla, 10th Nov. On the final day of campaigning for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying it was politicizing the old pension scheme and had “no moral right” to do so.

If the Congress realised that adopting the new pension scheme was a mistake, why did it not revert to the old scheme when the party was in power between 2012 and 2017, he questioned?

The Congress, which is attempting to unseat the BJP in the hill state, has promised to reinstate the old pension scheme (OPS).

At a press conference here on the final day of campaigning for the November 12 elections, Thakur said the state government-formed committee would look into the issue thoroughly and consider all options.

Attacking the Congress for making it a major election issue, the chief minister stated that the opposition party “has no moral right on this because the leadership of that party signed MoU in the entire country, ended OPS, and implemented NPS.”

”They are raking up the issue only on political considerations. Congress should apologise. If they made a mistake, they had time to make amends when Virbhadra Singh government was formed in 2012. At that time they could have restored OPS,” said Thakur.

After two decades they are trying to make it a poll issue, he added.

”We have always said that we should not immediately jump to conclusions, that is not appropriate… What can be the way forward (on OPS issue), has Congress studied its implication?” he said.

Thakur took a shot at the Congress, stating that its governments had implemented OPS in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

In reference to an event attended by him, the prime minister, and the chief ministers of Rajasthan and Assam, Thakur stated that while they were “having lunch together at one table, (Rajasthan CM) Ashok Gehlot told the prime minister with folded hands that ‘we have to announce OPS but it cannot be possible without your blessings and cooperation.”

He inquired whether the Rajasthan government had implemented OPS nine months after its announcement, noting that the situation in the state is chaotic on this front.

He said, the previous Congress government in Punjab also stated that OPS would be implemented.

With many Himachal Pradesh government employees recently calling for the restoration of OPS, Thakur said, “I want to tell employees that we understand your sentiments,” adding that they should be aware that the Congress was attempting to raise the issue “for political considerations.”

”Congress has no future neither in the country nor in the state,” he said.

Notably, the state has nearly 2.5 lakh government employees, 1.5 lakh of whom are covered by the new pension scheme.

Employees’ associations have previously protested the new scheme in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, and Solan.

The old pension scheme, under which the government provided the entire pension amount, was phased out in the country on April 1, 2004.

Employees contribute 10% of their basic salary to pensions under the new scheme, while the state government contributes 14%.

In response to apple growers’ demand for an increase in MSP and a 100% increase in apple import duty, Thakur stated, “We have raised the issue of import duty with the Centre.” He also stated that the MSP for apples had been increased more than the Congress did during their tenure, and that the state government was sensitive to growers’ concerns.

Thakur said, various polls show that the BJP is ahead of the Congress and will form the state government once more.

He predicted that the BJP would win the election based on the performance of its government and the development it carried out.

”The ‘double-engine’ government will work together to further accelerate progress in the state,” he said, adding that the BJP’s campaign got a boost with the prime minister’s visit to the state to address poll rallies. Prime Minister Modi has an emotional connect with Himachal Pradesh and people know this well, he said, adding nearly Rs 10,500 crore worth of projects have been given by the Centre to the state through various schemes.

In Himachal Pradesh, voting will take place on November 12, with results being announced on December 8.