In reply to the Governor’s address in the state Legislative Assembly, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Union government to release the fund deposited in the New Pension Scheme (NPS) as the state has reverted to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for its employees last year.

“We cannot afford to leave the funds of the state employees transferred under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) for share market fluctuations anymore. The Central government should release it for the employees and employers under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) at the earliest,” Gehlot told the House after two days of debate on the Governor’s address.

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“Hamara paisa NPS mein jama hai..OPS lagoo karne ke bavjood nahin de rahi hai abhi, agar nahin degi to hum Supreme Court jayenge, par lekar rahenge (Our money is deposited in NPS..even after implementing OPS, Centre is not giving it now, if it doesn’t, we will go to the Supreme Court, but we will take it back for OPS), Gehlot warned.

On recent ups and downs in the market, Gehlot alleged that as the Adani group stocks crashed, the shares of LIC, SBI and other lenders also slashed. Tehlaka is erupted on the Adani stocks world over…Everyone is alert now. Hence we cannot afford employees-employers’ contribution to the collapse in the stock market. Therefore, we all should appeal the PM Narendra Modi to transfer this money to Rajasthan,” Gehlot.

Giving a wake-up call in the House, CM urged all MLAs cutting across party lines to make an appeal to the PM to implement OPS for all employees for job security.

Recently, the Delhi High Court ruled that the benefit of OPLS be applicable for the Para-military forces and directed the Centre to issue necessary orders within eight weeks, Gehlot reminded.

The chief minister said the BJP should learn a lesson from the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls where it lost to the Congress over the issue of pension.

Listing the achievements of the Congress government in the state, Gehlot also urged the legislators to go to the PMO together to remind the PM the assurance he had given of providing national status to the ambitious scheme of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). All BJP MPs of LS and RS from Rajasthan shall also accompany the delegation, Gehlot added.