Ex-Indian Army soldier's suicide triggers political meltdown in Delhi?

Ex-Indian Army soldier Ram Krishan Grewal’s alleged suicide over one rank one pension (OROP) scheme on Wednesday morning triggered a political meltdown in India's capital. 

As opposition leader Rahul Gandhi reached the RML hospital in Delhi to meet the deceased's relatives later in the day, he was detained more than once after being prevented from meeting Grewal's family.

In the first round, the Congress vice-president was detained at the Mandir Marg police station. 

After he was released, he went back to the hospital and was once again detained by the Delhi Police. 

Senior leaders of ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP) including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia were also detained through the day and demonstrations continued. The Delhi Police detained several Congress leaders in various police stations.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had committed to implement the pension scheme during the 2014 parliamentary elections in India. 

The formerly ruling Congress-led UPA government was not able to take decisions because of financial implications. 

Following the  OROP roll-out in September this year, the Indian Army veterans expressed dissatisfaction over the OROP implementation and opposition parties, including Congress, decided to attack the government over the same. 

A day before the Hindu festival of Diwali, the Congress vice-president even wrote a letter to the Indian Prime Minister and raised concern over the scheme. 

(WION)