For the first time, veterans yesterday boycotted the official celebrations and commemorated the India’s victory in the 1965 war against Pakistan at their protest site.
The ex-servicemen have been on protest for more than two months now at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
For the first time, veterans yesterday boycotted the official celebrations and commemorated the India’s victory in the 1965 war against Pakistan at their protest site.
The protesting veterans yesterday also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Sources say, even though most hurdles have been cleared, except one. The government is firm its offer of reviewing pensions every five years while the veterans are demanding an annual or at least a biennial review. The review rationalises outdated pension rates, in effect raising them after a particular period.
Sources said, the government is unwilling to appear as buckling under the veteran’s pressure to implement OROP. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday that PM Modi would make an announcement “as and when time comes”.
The government is said to be upset that more and more veterans are joining the hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which began after PM Modi failed to announce OROP in his Independence Day speech on August 15.
OROP will give equal pension to servicemen retiring with the same rank regardless of when they retire.
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