Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked the veterans protesting for One Rank, One Pension, to prove that the continued protest is not politically motivated.
Even as the government had announced the pension scheme on September 5, 2015, Saturday, the veterans and the authorities did not agree to all the terms.
The veterans have continued their months-long protest against the government’s version of OROP.
The notification and announcement of the scheme’s implementation were promised to be done before Diwali.
The veterans are returning their awards as the formal notification, which came this Saturday, did not match their needs and demands.
The government had, on Saturday, formally notified the OROP scheme for over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country.
The protesting veterans gathered at the Jantar Mantar grounds even as Parrikar dared them to prove their protest is not politically motivated.
More than 800 medals have been returned till now.
If I say something, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not political... Medals are a recognition of the nation for the sacrifice done by the armed forces... Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces.Manohar Parrikar, Union Defence Minister
Medals are a recognition of bravery, for service to the nation. It has nothing to do with service conditions, whereas OROP is about service conditions. It does not say you are entitled to medals, it talks about service conditions like your pay and entitlement.Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister
On the issue of grievances of protesting ex-servicemen, he said, “Let them put their demands before the judicial committee, they will address it.”
He said implementing OROP was the BJP’s electoral promise and it has been fulfilled.
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