Ex-servicemen threaten ‘fast-unto-death’ over OROP
12 Sept 2015 5:36 AM IST
The rally at Jantar Mantar was attended by ex-servicemen from 22 states and five Union Territories, the organisers claimed.
“We have all resolved to continue our protest till such time that the government removes the seven anomalies in the OROP scheme announced by them,” said Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, President of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, who is spearheading the agitation since about 90 days.
“Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said a written order on OROP will come out in a month. If the anomalies are not removed by then, we will resort to fast-unto-death,” he said. He said the veterans have been seeking for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the OROP issue.
“But he said yesterday that OROP is being given at the expense of the poor people in the country. We have been deeply hurt and are anguished over this comment,” Singh said. A few ex-servicemen earlier undertook ‘fast-unto-death’ but ended it after <g data-gr-id="31">government</g> announced OROP last Saturday.
Satbir Singh’s threat came as <g data-gr-id="30">hundeds</g> of ex-servicemen participated in a rally here to demand full implementation of OROP as proposed by them.
However, cracks appeared in the front of ex-servicemen this week with factions levelling allegations against each other.
While a section of the veterans were against holding the ‘Sainik Ekta’ rally, others feel they have been let down by the government, which had announced OROP on Saturday last.
On Wednesday, Lt Gen (<g data-gr-id="29">retd</g>) Balbir Singh, who heads Indian Ex-Services League, had announced his decision to exit the front, alleging lack of cohesion and suggesting politicisation of the agitation.
OROP involves additional spending of 2.2 <g data-gr-id="61">pc</g> Min: Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said the 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme will not be a "heavy" burden as it involves an additional spending of just 2.2 per cent out of his ministry's budget. Parrikar said he would be able to collect the amount by reducing wastage, lowering cost, and eliminating middlemen in defence deals. "A lot of people said OROP budget is going to be very heavy. I can tell you that total defence outlay was Rs 3.29 lakh crore. So it only forms about 2.2 <g data-gr-id="63">per cent</g> additionality in defence outlay," Parrikar said at a seminar organised by industrial chamber FICCI. "And if I can, I promise also, I can bring that amount by saving the wastage or lowering cost by various other innovative ideas and by really preventing the middlemen" from making money, he added. Later, responding to a question on the ongoing agitation by ex-servicemen, he said: "It is a democratic right (to protest), you cannot take it away." However, he sought to remind the protesting veterans that for the first time in 42 years, a government has come out with OROP. The comments came on a day when veterans organised a rally, demanding that the government remove anomalies in the scheme announced by it recently.
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