Q&A: ‘When a soldier knows what happens on retiring, why should he die for his country?’
The agitation for one rank, one pension — which essentially means that all ex-servicemen will get the same pension according to rank and tenure of service irrespective of when they retire — shows no sign of abating. In this interview, a fiery Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (Retd), one of the key leaders of the OROP movement, tells Sridhar Kumaraswami why retired soldiers are feeling betrayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but says they are fully prepared for the struggle ahead.
Why have ex-soldiers hit the streets now? How did the situation reach a boiling point?
It’s a very sad thing to happen. It indicates that ex-soldiers are unhappy and anguished by the apathy shown by the government to the OROP scheme that was sanctioned 17 months ago. We were looking forward to its implementation. But that did not happen. The defence minister (Manohar Parrikar) appro-ved it and sent the proposal on March 17, 2015. It’s lying either with the finance ministry or the Prime Minister’s Office. Why? We have gone and knocked on every door. Five letters have been written to the Prime Minister. We have met the defence minister five times and also the finance minister. But nothing has happened. On the contrary, we have been told that there is not one, but many definitions. We have been told that it’s not simple (to implement), that it’s very complicated. When, in fact, it’s very simple and there’s just one definition of OROP.
What about the argument that it’ll be a financial burden on the country? And once given to the armed forces, the paramilitary troops and the Railways will follow suit?
I am shocked that such ideas are being propagated by the scheming bureaucracy and the politicians are agreeing to it. OROP has been sanctioned. Why were such things not said or asked before sanctioning it? ...As many as 85 per cent of the country’s Armymen (personnel below officer rank) have to leave the force around the age of 35, whereas these people (paramilitary and police forces) serve till about the age of 60. They get 25 more increments. They see the implementation of two to three pay commissions during their career. They get Rs 8 crore more than an Army jawan till the age of 70 (by way of salaries and pensions). The jawans of the Army also have less life expectancy due to the stress on the job compared to the police and paramilitary. Due to the lack of OROP, for instance, a major general retiring before 2006 gets less pension compared to a lieutenant colonel retiring now.
Given the promises made earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the lack of corresponding action on the ground, do you feel betrayed?
Yes, we feel betrayed by Mr Modi. He assured us about OROP but in the past 17 months, no work has been done. He should ask the bureaucrats. Why was the matter included as a priority for action in the President’s address to both the Houses of Parliament? It means implementation within 100 days. Why have they (the government) not done it? From that day till now, where is the (OROP) file? Why hasn’t it moved? Why were these “technicalities” not resolved? I hold the finance ministry responsible for the delay since the matter got stuck there after it was approved by the ministry of defence.
Are you getting any support from serving soldiers? Are they donating for the cause?
No. We have told all serving personnel not to take part in our activities. But, a serving soldier cannot be separated from a retired one, because every year 60,000 personnel of the armed forces retire, i.e. 5,000 every month. So they know what is happening. Of the serving personnel, about 70 per cent are children of retired soldiers. Won’t they get to know that their fathers are sitting on a hunger strike when they come home? They are also affected, but we have not involved them. This adversely affects the morale of the armed forces. When a serving soldier knows that his condition would be no different after retiring, why should he die for his country?
You welcomed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at Jantar Mantar. Did you ask him why the OROP was not implemented during the decade-long tenure of the UPA government?
No, we did not welcome him. If any politician comes, he sits on a chair down below (from the stage). We asked him what he wanted to say. He said that he supports us and we thanked him. Why should I ask Mr Gandhi why OROP was not implemented earlier? Do you think I want to make a hero out of him? Some people here, in fact, told him to go back. “Go back, Rahul Gandhi” slogans were chanted. Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also came to the protests. We welcome support from any political party because we are soldiers of the nation. And why not? Are they not parliamentarians?
For 60 days you sat at Jantar Mantar without much media attention. But the Delhi police’s move to evict you on August 14 changed that. What do you have to say about that?
It was an arrogant action on the part of the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi police. They function under the Centre. How would I know whether it was at the Centre’s behest or not? I saw the police trying to evict us, hitting our people and trying to tear our clothes. It was a shameful act. I have not forgiven the police. He (joint commissioner of police M.K. Meena) came and apologised but the police’s action remains etched in our memory. For the first time in the history of India, the police attacked ex-servicemen. They committed a heinous crime... It was an assault on the military’s prestige. We were agitating peacefully. The civil-military relations have deteriorated. This will never be accepted by the military personnel, whether retired or serving.
Is this the beginning of the military’s politicisation?
No, I don’t think so. But our ex-chiefs are late in writing. They should have done it six months ago. But still, we thank them that at least they came (out openly in our support) now. But the injustice on us will have an effect on the political system. The military is under the elected representatives of the people and not the bureaucracy.
What is the road forward in case the Centre does not grant OROP? I believe you may meet the Prime Minister in the coming days?
We have requested an audience with Mr Modi. If he agrees to meet us, I am sure he will listen to us. He had made certain promises. I am sure he would like his assurances to be implemented. If OROP is not granted, we will intensify our agitation peacefully, within the means available under the Constitution.
