OROP: Veterans may meet PM Modi next week

The ex-servicemen’s protest over the delay in the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for military pensioners will be scaled up in the coming days as most veterans have refused to go by the government assurances.

“The United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) management again requested the three ex-servicemen (ESM) on fast unto death to discontinue till August 26″.

The Narendra Modi government has reiterated its commitment towards the OROP but has refrained from giving a time frame on the its implementation claiming there are some technical difficulties involved.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ex-servicemen said Maj Gen Satbir Singh and Lt Gen Balbir told Misra that if government was serious about the interest of ex-servicemen, it would have initiated action on the two other promises made in manifesto of BJP – martyrs memorial and establishment of veterans’ commission to be chaired and manned by ex-servicemen. “It could be between August 24-26”, he said.

The ex-servicemen had a meeting with Principal Secretary in the PMO, Nripendra Misra, on Tuesday after Army Chief General Dalbir Singh called Maj.

The ex-servicemen are demanding that there should be no change in the definition of OROP, the date of implementation should remain as April 1, 2014, and the base year must remain 2013-14.

Parrikar too asked the veterans to wait till August 24, as he was scheduled to meet Modi on August 23. It was also the third day for Havildar Ashok Chauhan (retd).

The protesting veterans also received widespread support from civil society organisations as well as individuals, including the Delhi Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DSGPC). He spoke in the company of the protesters. “We will try to rectify our mistakes”, Meena said.

On Friday, police tried to forcefully evict the protesting ex-servicemen, leading to scuffles. So, a major general who retired in 1996 draws a lower pension than a Lt. Colonel who retired later.