Delegation of protesting veterans met with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Premature retirement is the one point we wanted to discuss. Defence Minister confirmed that Army doesn’t have VRS. After this clarification we are satisfied. Will take a decision on our agitation tomorrow after discussing with the Core group.
— Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement
A few sticking points have taken some of the wind out of the OROP celebrations. The Government insists it’s a landmark decision. Some veterans feel the outstanding issues are significant.
After 42 years of struggle, One Rank, One Pension has come into effect. The government has sanctioned Rs 8,000 crore, annually, for OROP.
Even as the issue of equalisation and revision of pension continues to remain a sticking point, the Modi government is being congratulated for finally rolling out the much awaited pension scheme for ex-army servicemen.
Retired Major General Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement said that only one out of the six demands was met.
The ex-servicemen do not agree with the revision and equalisation norms, he said.
Withdrawing mass agitation immediately is thus out of question, Satbir Singh further noted.
Will ensure further modifications are carried out so that #OROP is delivered in full spirit.
— Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting
However, Congress’ Kapil Sibal, former communication and information minister, called the scheme an insult to ex-servicemen.
According to him, the UPA government’s OROP – which would have been effective from April 1, 2014 – had followed the equalisation principle, regardless of the date of retirement for servicemen who have served the same length of time.
The Congress holds a press conference after Manohar Parrikar announces OROP.
Speaking at the conference, former Defence Minister, and Rajya Sabha member AK Anthony said that the UPA government had already accepted the OROP in 2014. According to him, the then Finance Minister P Chidmabaram had announced that the government has accepted the proposal of OROP in Parliament in 2014.
Talking about how this is only a partial acceptance of demands, Anthony further said that the Congress never brought politics in defence briefings, but when Parrikar said that the previous UPA government didn’t do their homework in the OROP case, not only was he blatant, but also incorrect.
Anthony defended the previous UPA government saying that no other government has increased the pensions substantially of ex-servicemen, thrice, amounting to a boost of Rs 7,000 crore.
Ex-servicemen have said that the government has accepted only one of their demands and rejected six and therefore, they will continue their agitation.
Here is what Major General Sarabjit Singh had to say:
- Reject the government’s stand on VRS and seek clarification on the same
- 40% of servicemen take VRS; if the government doesn’t accept it, it will be a big blow to the forces
- Reject the one-member committee; instead want 5 members, of which 3 would be veterans, 1 serving serviceman and one of the government’s choice
Amit Shah’s press conference which was scheduled for 4 pm today has now been delayed till further notice.