No mention of OPS in Cong manifesto

Almost one-and-a-half years after the Congress won the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections by promising the implementation of the old pension scheme (OPS) and got it implemented in Rajasthan, the Congress on Friday, however, did not mention the scheme in its manifesto which it released during a programme at the party headquarters.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had campaigned aggressively in Himachal Pradesh promising the implementation of the OPS if voted to power.

While responding to a question on the non-inclusion of the OPS in its manifesto, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, “It (OPS) is on our mind. But please remember there is a development in the last four months. The government has appointed a committee headed by finance secretary to review the NPS and the demand for the OPS and to find a way in which the objectives of the OPS financed by a funded pension scheme, which means the government has come to a view that while OPS delivered benefits to pensioners the NPS made it sustainable.”

He said, “Now a committee is being appointed under finance secretary and unless we receive the report of committee and review it, it would be premature to take a stand on the OPS and NPS controversy. It is very much in our mind and we will come out once the committee’s report is received.”

The party faced question after the Manifesto Committee had included the OPS in its draft report which was discussed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), party highest decision making body last month.