Ex-servicemen protest over delay in OROP
The ex-servicemen also said that they have sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-06-15 02:04 GMT
New Delhi: Upset over the delay in the implementation of the “One Rank, One Pension” policy, ex-servicemen on Sunday held protests across the country, including in Delhi, demanding its immediate introduction. The former soldiers have threatened to go an a relay hunger strike from Monday.
The protest comes after talks — both formal and back- channel — with the government failed as the ex-servicemen were not given a specific timeline for the implementation of the long-pending OROP.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured us that it will be implemented, but it has been one year,” said Col. (retd) Anil Kaul, the media advisor to Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM). Maj. Gen. (retd) Satbir Singh, vice-chairman of IESM, said the protests will continue till the OROP is implemented.
The ex-servicemen also said that they have sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee. The Modi government has said that it is committed to OROP, one of its key poll promises, but has been unable to implement it till now. There has been no official clarification over the delay either.