Sought appointment with PM five times but received no response: Ex-servicemen
New Delhi: Ex-servicemen agitating for implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension (OROP)' on Friday claimed they had sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi five times in last one year but received no response, and reiterated their demand for an audience with him.
The veterans said they had two meetings with Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, in a fortnight, but there was neither any tangible result from the discussion nor was there anything on paper.
"We want an audience with the Prime Minister. We have full faith in him and we are sure we can explain to him the issue. After hearing us out, he will not only resolve our problem, but also grant us more than what we are demanding now," Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said.
He said after the intervention by the PMO around a fortnight back, they have had two meetings with Principal Secretary.
"We have had negotiations with the Principal Secretary twice in last fortnight. But there was nothing concrete in what he offered. Nothing was on paper.
"We have also met the Raksha Mantri (defence minister Manohar Parrikar) thrice in last two months. He seemed to be very affirmative," said Wing Commander (retd) G K Sharma.
Singh said the deadlock over the OROP persists and none of the differences have been "ironed out." The protest of the ex-servicemen entered 82nd day even as 13 veterans have sat on fast-unto-death since August 16.
Meanwhile, Keshav Singh of the Armoured Regiment was rushed to Army's Research and Referral Hospital today after his health started deteriorating. He was sitting on fast unto-death at the protesting hot-spot from August 27.
