OPS Row Heats Up: Congress Assures Employees, Slams BJP’s Pension Stand
State Congress President Vinay Kumar has firmly reassured government employees that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will continue under the present Congress government, calling any move to replace it “unacceptable.” His statement comes in response to remarks made by Union Health Minister Jaiprakash Nadda, who recently suggested that if the BJP comes to power in the state, it would replace OPS with the new pension system and UPS.
Vinay Kumar described Nadda’s comment as “deeply unfortunate” and warned that any such step would amount to a serious injustice and betrayal of employees. He urged government workers across the state to stay alert, understand the policy differences, and stand united to protect their rights.
Taking aim at the previous BJP government, Kumar said that during former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s tenure, several employee dues remained unpaid. He also accused the BJP of leaving behind a heavy financial burden, stating that the state was saddled with a debt of over ₹70,000 crore and additional employee liabilities exceeding ₹10,000 crore. In contrast, he claimed, the Congress government made history by restoring OPS for employees.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the state in recent years, Kumar pointed to a series of natural disasters that have caused massive damage. He noted that between 2024 and 2025, heavy rains, landslides, and cloudbursts led to losses worth more than ₹5,600 crore and claimed over 540 lives. In 2025 alone, the state reportedly suffered damages exceeding ₹4,000 crore, with 366 fatalities. The year before saw losses of around ₹1,613 crore and 174 deaths. He also recalled the devastating monsoon of 2023, which resulted in losses of over ₹12,000 crore and more than 440 deaths.
Despite these repeated setbacks, Kumar said the state has yet to receive any special financial package from the central government for disaster relief. He pointed out that although a ₹1,500 crore assistance package was announced during a visit by central leaders, it has not materialised so far.
Continuing his criticism of the BJP, Kumar accused the party of trying to mislead the public by presenting inflated or inaccurate figures regarding central assistance. He alleged that such claims are being made purely for political gain.
He further said that, in his view, the BJP has shown little commitment to the state’s development, neither in the past nor in its present stance. Referring to the closure of RDG (Revenue Deficit Grants), he added that the people of the state would not forget what he described as an injustice.
Overall, Kumar’s remarks reflect a growing political debate in the state, with pension schemes, financial management, and disaster response emerging as key issues shaping the narrative ahead.
