Haridwar (Uttarakhand) [India], October 12 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has strongly commended the central government's focus on national security and military welfare, highlighting landmark decisions ranging from the implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) to proactive cross-border counter-terrorism measures.

Addressing the media, Dhami underscored that successive administrations prior to 2014 failed to deliver long-pending demands for military personnel or take decisive action against cross-border threats.

'The Prime Minister consistently worked to address the concerns, needs, and family welfare of military personnel, leading to the implementation of the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme, something the nation's soldiers and citizens had awaited for nearly 40 years," Pushkar Singh Dhami said.

Meanwhile, in a historic move to address long-standing disparities in pension benefits, India launched the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, a decision that would change the lives of its military veterans, a press release said.

For years, veterans had fought not just on the battlefield, but also for equal recognition in their post-service lives, particularly when it came to pension benefits. With the introduction of OROP, the government took a bold step to ensure that soldiers who had served the nation with unwavering dedication would be treated fairly.

Transitioning to matters of national defence and counter-terrorism, the Chief Minister contrasted the current security posture with past policies, pointing to military operations like airstrikes, surgical strikes, and 'Operation Sindoor' as evidence of a robust strategic doctrine.

He said, "Furthermore, while previous governments before 2014 would merely condemn the frequent attacks and acts of terrorism without taking further action, the Prime Minister's tenure saw a shift; through measures like airstrikes, surgical strikes, and 'Operation Sindoor,' a stern message was sent to the nation's enemies terrorists, separatists, and jihadists while simultaneously showcasing India's strategic prowess and defence capabilities to the world."

Dhami further highlighted India's transition from an import-dependent nation to a prominent exporter of military hardware, noting substantial economic growth within the domestic defence manufacturing sector.

CM Dhami said, "India, which once relied on other nations for even basic weaponry, now supplies defence equipment to numerous countries, with exports valued at thousands of crores.' (ANI)