New Delhi: The defence veterans protesting for One Rank One Pension refused to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war organised by the government and will commemorate its 50th anniversary at Jantar Mantar.
Colonel Pushpender Singh who is on fast unto death is now being joined in his protest by his 95-year-old mother. She has vowed to have only one meal a day till OROP is implemented.
The ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar have stated that if no announcement on OROP is made on Friday, they will be escalating their protest. On August 16, the veterans had given 10 days to the government to announce OROP.
They had maintained that they will not escalate the protest till then. However, with the deadline having passed, the ex-servicemen have claimed that more veterans will sit on fast-unto-death if their demand is not met.
"If the government fails to make the announcement on OROP by August 28, then more veterans will sit on fast-unto-death, rallies will be held, black flags will put at every house, more youth will join," Major General (retired) Satbir Singh said.
The government had made three proposals for implementing One Rank One Pension but they were rejected by the veterans. The government wanted the scheme to be in effect from April 1, 2015 but ex-servicemen say the scheme has to be in effect from April 1, 2014. The government wants 2011 to be the base year for pension which veterans say dilutes the principle of OROP.
Ten veterans have joined fast unto death till now in demand for OROP. Those on fast include Colonel Pushpender Singh, Havaldar Ashok Chauhan, Havaldar Major Singh, Havaldar Sahib Singh, Major Piar Chand Rana, Naik Uday Singh Rawat and former Navy personnel Commander AK Sharma along with Sanwal Ram Yadav, father of martyr Lance Naik Sunil Kumar Yadav. The latest to join the fast are Subedar (retired) Vijay Singh Yadav and SWR Keshav Singh.
The veterans and war widows have been demanding One Rank One Pension which means that a retired soldier of the same rank and length of service will receive the same pension, regardless of his or her date of leaving the Indian Army, Indian Navy or Indian Air Force.
Calling it their legitimate right, veterans are on protest at Jantar Mantar for the last 74 days and will continue till it is implemented.
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