The Narendra Modi government and the ex-servicemen demanding one rank, one pension seem headed for another showdown as the ex-servicemen hit back at defence minister Manohar Parikkar for his comments
The Narendra Modi government and the ex-servicemen demanding one rank, one pension seem headed for another showdown as the ex-servicemen hit back at defence minister Manohar Parikkar for his comments that not all demands could be fulfilled. They said they had only “one demand”, that of one rank, one pension, and that they would intensify the agitation by returning their medals from Tuesday.
Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said everyone has the right to make a demand in a democracy, but not all demands can be fulfilled.
Threatening to intensify their agitation, Gp Capt. V.K. Gandhi (Retd), who is the general secretary of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), said, “We have one and only demand, and that is OROP. It was the government that inserted provisions that has made the issue complicated. We want OROP as per the definition. No junior should get more pension than his senior. In protest against the government notification, we will start returning our medals from tomorrow. And November 10-11, ex-servicemen across the country will start returning their medals. They have already informed the district magistrates about this.”
The ex-servicemen, who also met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, said the CM had asked them to brief him about the government notification on OROP.
Meanwhile, Mr Parrikar underlined that the “maximum” demands of the veterans have been fulfilled. He said the judicial commission that will be set up will look into the “problems”. “This is democracy. Everyone has the right to demand. But the maximum... Their main demand for same pension for same rank has been given,” Mr Parrikar had said.
Rest is everything that we had declared (on September 5). Out of that, the confusion about VRS has been removed,” .
“Har ek cheez mangte hain, wohi agar satisfy hone laga to kabhi khatam nahi hoga, aur koi kuchh aur mangega (Even if all demands are satisfied, someone will ask for something else),” he said.
The minister said the “basic core issue” has been addressed and if there is a problem, the judicial commission will look into that. He was replying to questions on veterans being unhappy with the OROP notification issued by the government on Saturday for more than 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country.
