Accept OROP demand on August 15, Kejriwal tells Modi
But with Modi not committing fully on the issue, the protesting ex-servicemen- who are on relay hunger strike- exploded in anger at the Jantar Mantar.
While it was being speculated that Modi might make an announcement on OROP in his speech on Independence Day, he did not give a specific timeline for the implementation of the scheme.
Police and civic body officials tried to forcefully evacuate them from Jantar Mantar on August 14, citing security reasons for Independence Day preparations.
OROP states that every soldier who retires in the same rank gets the same pension, irrespective of his date of retirement. “The PM has promised to implement OROP, he just need to say one thing that it’ll be implemented by this particular date”, he said.
Ex-servicemen had also said that they would boycott all government functions henceforth till their demands are met. “For the 125 crore people of Team India, the soldiers are national resource”, Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort. In the same vein, he reiterated that OROP is a commitment on which his government firmly stood. This has led to an escalation of the protest wherein ex-servicemen have decided to boycott all government functions, including those felicitating ex or serving servicemen.
Two ex-servicemen launch fast-unto-death in Delhi as agitation intensifies.
The former Chief of the Navy Staff Arun Prakash, one of the four former service chiefs who last week wrote an open letter to the President, said the ball was in the court of the government, which had “consistently ignored and humiliated the veterans”.
“We want the common man to know how the government is disrespecting soldiers”.
Terming police action to attempt eviction of the protestors as “bizarre” Kejriwal tweeted, “Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of Jantar Mantar?” “Discussions have come to the final leg. We are finding a solution, and I am hoping for a positive result”, Mr. Modi said.
The protesters say five more ex-servicemen could join the hunger strike if OROP is not announced soon. “These delays are construed to be only with a view to bring in changes in the parameters and dilute the entitlements, which will be grossly unjust and unacceptable”, the letter said.
“We all were expecting that this would be announced in Prime Minister’s August 15 speech, but it did not happen”, said Congress leader P.C Chacko.
They would also be entitled to a year ” s back pensions at the new rate, which would be a windfall for pensioners. Retried armed forces personnel have demanded that they receive the same pension given to personnel of the same rank, who are retiring now.