Head of DefenceMinistry-appointed

panel quitsNEW DELHI, Nov 4:

The head of a DefenceMinistry-appointed committee tosuggest ways to restructure theacquisition wing has quit follow-ing differences over basic con-cept of a new procurement body.

Retired bureaucrat VivekRae, who had served as thedirector general (acquisition) inthe Defence Ministry, put in hispapers early last month.

The panel was set up in Maythis year by Defence MinisterManohar Parrikar following rec-ommendations of the DhirendraSingh Committee, which hadgiven inputs for the new DefenceProcurement Policy.

The panel, headed by Rae,included former FinancialAdvisor to the DefenceMinistry Amit Cowshish, AirMarshal (retd) N V Tyagi, LtGen (retd) A V Subramanian,IIM professor Pritam Singh andDefence Ministry officials J RK Rao and Sanjay Garg.(PTI)

NEW DELHI, Nov 4:

Meeting of the all powerfulGST Council failed to reach anyconclusion on the dual controlissue as states objected to non-availability of updated data onassessees of service tax, exciseand VAT.

The Goods and Services TaxCouncil, comprising statefinance ministers and headedUnion Finance Minister ArunJaitley, will meet informally onNovember 20 to sort out the dif-ferences.

Some state ministers, sourcessaid, could also meet onNovember 19 to sort out differ-ences over dual control, whichwill determine the jurisdiction ofCentre and states over assessees.

The Council will formallymeet on November 24 and 25 todecide on host of issues includ-ing the dual control and approvedraft legislations on IGST,CGST and SGST. The meetingwas earlier scheduled forNovember 9 and 10.

"There will be dual controlor cross empowerment or elseGST cannot be implemented. Itis absolutely clear in everyones'mind," said a minister after the

4th GST Council meeting."The only problem is that we

do not want to make a decisionin rush. We work with data. Weneed those numbers. Once wehave the numbers, we will

decide," he said.Another minister said that

states have asked the Centre tocome with updated data onService Tax, Excise and VAT.(PTI)NEW DELHI, Nov 4:

A combative Rahul Gandhitoday stepped up pressure on theGovernment over OROP, accus-ing Prime Minister NarendraModi of "lying" on the issue andinsisting what the retireddefence personnel were nowgetting was "enhanced pension"and that 'One Rank-OnePension' demand was yet to befulfilled.

The Congress vice presidentasserted that OROP was theright of military personnel andthe Government "will have togive it".

"What PM says is OneRank-One Pension is actuallypension enhancement and notOROP. PM should stop lying onthe issue.

"OROP is the right of armedforces personnel andGovernment will have to giveit," Rahul, who was detainedthrice over two days duringprotests over the suicide byarmy veteran Ram KishanGrewal, told reporters. Grewalhad allegedly committed suicideover OROP. An unfazed Gandhisaid he was not bothered by hisdetention.

Accusing the Government ofwaiving loans of a staggering Rs1.10 lakh crore of 15 big indus-trialists, Gandhi said it has noth-ing to give to soldiers and farm-ers.

"The Government has notgiven respect and the rightwhich is due to soldiers. If ithad, why these ex-servicemenbeen protesting for the last 509days at Jantar-Mantar," he saidafter meeting around 60-70 mil-itary veterans at the AICC head-quarters.

Gandhi, who has been inthe forefront of the protestsafter Grewal's suicide,accussed the Government ofnot "doing justice to soldierswho sacrifice their life for thecountry."

Gandhi said he met "experi-enced" ex-servicemen fromacross the country and had a"good discussion" with them.The Congress leader said theveterans clearly told them thatwhat Narendra Modi was call-ing implementation of "OneRank One Pension" was only"pension ehancement" and notOROP.

"Every jawan, captain andgeneral knows this.Understands it. OROP is notabout the money but about thedignity of our soldiers, about

justice for our soldiers," hesaid.

Gandhi said former sol-diers staging protests forimplementation of OROP havealso said they will not presstheir demand if Governmenttells them it does not havemoney.

But the truth is that some 15industrialists have been givenaway Rs 1.10 lakh crore by theGovernment by way of waivingtheir bad loans and it can pro-vide money for ex- servicemen,he said.

"There used to be a slogan ofJai Jawan, Jai Kisan. But neitherthe farmer not the jawans aregetting money. Neither thefarmer nor the ex-servicemenare respected.

"What is happening is thatPrime Minister is saying 'OneRank One Pension' has beenimplemented. Then why are ourex-servicemen standing atJantar Mantar and before themedia. They have been there for

509 days," he asked.Gandhi said the former sol-

diers have some other demandsrelating to disability pensionand 7th pay commission recom-mendations which theGovernment needs to fulfil afterit promised that it will imple-ment OROP in toto.

"I want to tell theGovernment that our jawans andex-servicemen have given awaytheir lives and years for thecountry. You should respectthem and implement OROP inits true sense. It is their right andthe Government will have to doit," he said.

Recalling his detentionduring protests over the recentsuicide of army veteran RamKishan Grewal, whose kinwere also taken into custody,he demanded that theGovernment must apologise tothe family for the manner inwhich they were treated was"unacceptable" and "wrong".(PTI)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 (PAGE 14) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

ARTEMIS HOSPITAL GURGAON SECTOR-51HEART CARE O.P.DDR. AMIT BHUSHAN SHARMA HEART SPECIALIST

Sunday 6th November 2016, 10 AM to 3 PM. 94191-89634

HEART O.P.D 1ST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH - TMT FACILITY

MD, DM (Cardiology) FSCAI, FIC (New York) FIPD (Michigan USA) Director Interventional Cardiology Mob: 09999597113

Tel: 0191-2543342, ECHS, CGHS All major Insurances accepted

Venue Registration Clinic Dr. D.B. Sharma Child Specialist near Raghu Nath Temple Jammu Mob: 94191-93919

Rahul accuses PM of lying, says defence veterans not getting OROP

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, former DefenceMinister A K Antony with Ex-Servicemen from various statestalking to reporters after a brief meeting on OROP issue at AICCheadquarters, in New Delhi on Friday.(UNI)

GST Council meet inconclusive as state FMs want more tax data