The BJP has responded strongly to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's criticism over the Centre's announcement of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees. The ruling party questioned the Congress on whether it had implemented the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in states where it governs, such as Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, after making it a central issue in its election campaigns.

At a press conference, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad challenged Kharge and the Congress over their promises regarding OPS. He highlighted that Congress made OPS a major political issue in recent years, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra even pledging its implementation during elections in Himachal Pradesh. Prasad questioned why the Congress had not yet fulfilled these promises in states where it has come to power.

Prasad emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is sensitive to public concerns and does not make decisions on a whim. He criticized Congress and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of making false promises for votes. "Rahul Gandhi, what are you doing? How much can you bluff? If you make a promise, you should follow through," Prasad said, adding that governing India requires serious decision-making, not ad-hoc policies.

Prasad also accused Congress of being "weary" of its unfulfilled OPS promises, pointing out that the party did not have the courage to include OPS in its Lok Sabha election manifesto. He suggested that Congress had become apprehensive about its commitments.

Earlier, Kharge had taken a jab at the Modi government's announcement of the Unified Pension Scheme, mocking it as a "U-turn." In a tweet, Kharge remarked, "The 'U' in UPS stands for Modi government's U-turns," referencing the government's shifting positions on various issues.

On Saturday, the Union Cabinet approved the UPS, which guarantees a pension for government employees. The scheme ensures an assured pension of 50% of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months before retirement, provided the employee has completed at least 25 years of service. The scheme also offers a minimum guaranteed pension of ₹10,000 per month for employees retiring after at least 10 years of service.

The debate over pension schemes has intensified, especially in states where the Congress had promised a return to the OPS, a system that provides retired government employees with 50% of their last drawn salary as a monthly pension. Critics of OPS argue that it is fiscally unsustainable as it is non-contributory, with the financial burden on the government increasing as pensions grow with the rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) rates.

This back-and-forth between the BJP and Congress highlights the continuing political debate over pension reforms and promises, with both parties using the issue to challenge each other's commitments and governance strategies.