On July 4th, the Western Army Command will mark the 25th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1965 war. But many of those who fought the war are on a relay hunger strike at the capital’s Jantar Mantar. For 10 days now, they’ve been agitating for the implementation of One Rank One Pension, and they have threatened to boycott the celebrations.
Here’s what some of those who’ve been protesting at Jantar Mantar told The Quint.
The proud daughter of General Umrao Singh who fought in World War II, the 1962 war against China and the 1965 War with Pakistan, Sujata says he felt terrible about missing ’71.
Sujata’s father suffered permanent injuries from shrapnel in his calves which remained in his body till he died. “The poison”, she says “spread in his body through his lifetime”.
I’m protesting for my dad and my mom who is still surviving and waiting for One Rank One Pension. When I see people with billions of rupees in Delhi and in Mumbai and Mr Ambani living in his plush palatial home, I feel this nation has progressed and times have changed and we need our rights too.
– Sujata Sangwan demands OROP for war widow
Lt Col (Retd) Inderjit Singh started the movement for One Rank One Pension 33 years ago. He’s been successful in getting the government to make corrections twice, but this, he admits, is the long fight.
I had predicted this six months earlier that they will delay OROP till the 7th Pay Commission. They will say we haven’t been able to solve this financial dilemma. The Pay Commission is bound to say OROP is unfeasible. So the government will have an easy way out.
– Lt Col (Retd) Inderjit Singh, Ex-servicemen Association
Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh was part of Operation Meghdoot, when India occupied the forbidding Siachen glacier. He was also part of Operation Bluestar, when the Army entered the Golden Temple.
Singh says his measly pension and small-time farming income, is not enough to get his children married or build a home.
I was 18 years, 216 days old when I joined the Army. My basic pay was Rs 111. Today, a Lance Naik earns Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000. They conveniently packed us off with Rs 10,500 in pension.
– Lance Naik (Retd) Kuldeep Singh
But what will Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh do if the government says it does not have the money for One Rank One Pension? He has a simple answer.
We will simply get up and end the dharna. We’ll shut up and stay calm. If Narendra Modi doesn’t have the money, then what is the point asking him? But he has allocated money for this. They have promised OROP, now they need to walk the talk.
– Lance Naik (Retd) Kuldeep Singh
But Major General (Retd) Jagjit Singh Rishi says he doesn’t need the money but is demanding OROP for likes of Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh. He’s read reports that the definition of One Rank One Pension is being tampered with, and he is not happy.
Definition of Koshiyari Committee was that soldiers should get same pension regardless of when they retire and the benefits should be passed on to those who did not get it earlier. Junior ranks, particularly ORs who retire between 35 to 45 who are sent home in the prime of their lives.
– Major General (Retd) Jagjit Singh Rishi
Veterans like Major General (Retd) Jagjit Singh Rishi proudly wear medals they won for fighting for India’s integrity in 1965. Do they suddenly become less patriotic if they refuse to attend the party to mark 50 years of the war?
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