Mallikarjun Kharge labels 'U' in UPS as symbol of Modi government's U-Turns

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sharply criticized the Central Government over its recent announcement of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), stating that the "U" in UPS symbolizes the Modi administration's frequent U-turns.

In a tweet, Kharge attributed the BJP-led government's recent reversals of key decisions to the growing strength of the Opposition following the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that the pressure from the public has forced the government to backtrack on its policies.

"The 'U' in UPS stands for Modi Govt’s U-turns. Post June 4, the power of the people has prevailed over the arrogance of power of the Prime Minister," Kharge asserted.

The ‘U’ in UPS stands for Modi Govt’s U turns!

Post June 4, the power of the people has prevailed over the arrogance of power of the Prime Minister.

— Rollback in the budget regarding Long Term Capital Gain / Indexation

— Sending Waqf Bill to JPC

— Rollback of Broadcast… pic.twitter.com/DJbDoEyl6g

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 25, 2024

Kharge further listed a series of recent decisions by the Narendra Modi government that were retracted after public and political backlash. Among these were the rollback of proposals in the Budget concerning Long Term Capital Gain/Indexation, the referral of the Waqf bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the withdrawal of the draft Broadcasting bill, and the scrapping of lateral entry into the bureaucracy.

"We will continue to hold this despotic government accountable and protect 140 crore Indians from its autocratic actions," Kharge emphasized.

On Saturday, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which promises a guaranteed pension for government employees. The approval came after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Under the scheme, employees opting for UPS will be entitled to a guaranteed pension amounting to 50% of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months before retirement, provided they have a minimum qualifying service of 25 years.

The scheme also ensures a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month upon retirement, applicable to those who have completed at least 10 years of service.

It is worth noting that several non-BJP states have decided to revert to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in opposition to the New Pension Scheme (NPS). Employee organizations in other states have also raised similar demands.

The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) provides retired government employees with a monthly pension equivalent to 50% of their last drawn salary, which increases in line with the Dearness Allowance (DA) rates. However, OPS is often criticized for being fiscally unsustainable as it is not a contributory scheme, leading to an increasing burden on the exchequer.