# Smriti Irani accuses Rahul Gandhi of exploiting paramilitary issues 2026-08-21T14:10:45+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet BJP leader Smriti Irani has accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of using the alleged mistreatment of paramilitary personnel for political posturing rather than genuine advocacy. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Irani said Gandhi's sit-in outside Parliament over the issue was a publicity stunt that ignored established official channels and the work done by the government for the forces. She claimed that Gandhi's actions were aimed at undermining the government's efforts and that the Congress leader had no real interest in the welfare of the troops. Irani also highlighted the government's record, including the One Rank One Pension scheme and improved facilities for paramilitary forces, asserting that the opposition was only seeking attention without substance. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The exchange reflects the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and Congress over welfare issues for security forces. The One Rank One Pension scheme, a long-standing demand, was implemented by the Modi government in 2014-15, but disputes over arrears and coverage persist. The real test will be whether the government announces any fresh concessions in the next session or the opposition sustains the pressure. The actual number of affected personnel and the quantum of pending benefits remain unclear, but estimates suggest tens of thousands of troops are involved. The next parliamentary session is the key date to watch for further developments. ## Coverage - ndtv.com Frames Irani's attack as defending government record, with no mention of opposition's specific allegations. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: BJP, Congress, paramilitary forces, Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/smriti-irani-accuses-rahul-gandhi-of-exploiting-paramilitary-issues/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/smriti-irani-accuses-rahul-gandhi-of-exploiting-paramilitary-issues/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/