Roll back hike in veterans' health insurance premium: Congress

Congress on Sunday backed the demand of a group of ex-servicemen for immediate roll back of the hike in the one-time contribution to a state-run health Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme  

Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev termed the Modi government's decison as "insensitive" for virtually doubling the one-time contribution to be made by retiring army personnel to the scheme.

"A retired JCO will now have to pay Rs 67,000 instead of Rs 15,000, a soldier will have to shell out Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 15,000 and a retired Officer will have to pay Rs 1.2 lakh instead of the previous Rs 60,000 to get basic medical care under the ECHS," Dev said at a press conference that was also addressed by Satbir Singh, the Chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).

The IESM had written to all members of parliament about the increase in the one-time contribution and urged them to raise demands for its roll back.

Dev also slammed the Modi government for "failing to instil fear" in anti-India forces who had attacked a CRPF camp in Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir.

"The attack is a sign of failure of the Modi government's foreign policy," she said referring to reports of "secret dialogue" between the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan in Bangkok on last Tuesday.

The Congress also reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his electoral promise of turning India into a strong nation and wanted him to take effective steps to deter the country's external and internal enemies.

"The Congress will support him if he takes any step in the interest of the nation. But he must do something immediately," said Dev, who is also the President of the All India Mahila Congress.