Peeved over “inordinate delay” by the Centre in implementing one-rank, one pension (OROP), the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, a joint forum of over 30 ex-servicemen organisations, on Tuesday decided to continue its protests and rallies “but, with greater velocity and intensity”.
The Front has also decided to seek “unconditional support” of all political parties, like-minded organisations, youth organisations, NGOs, scholars and social media to help accomplishment of the Mission OROP.
“Non-implementation of OROP approved concept has been causing heart burning and great amount of resentment amongst the defence community,” said Punjab’s All India Defence Brotherhood president Brig Kuldip Singh Kahlon.
The decisions were taken in a high-level meeting of ex-servicemen representatives, held on Tuesday, to review the situation arising out of inordinate delay in issuing the Centre’s notification for OROP and also to work out the future strategy.
“Based on the inputs received from the ground level defenders from the country and despite the fact that the rallies, protest marches, dharnas and hunger strikes continue to be held in every nook and corner of the country, the Government seems to be unfazed and on the contrary has been misleading the nation,” said Brig Kahlon.
He said that it was unanimously decided that protests and rallies will continue to be held but with greater velocity and intensity.
The forum unanimously decided to seek unconditional support of all political parties, like-minded organisations, youth organisations, NGOs, scholars and social media to help accomplishment of their mission OROP.
The think tank also took strong exception to the fact that by not allowing cremation of the gallant soldier's son at sector-25 cremation ground on September 11 during Prime Minister’s visit is an “infringement of constitutional fundamental rights”.
Condemning the incident, they said that four soldiers of elite Indian Army regiment lost their lives on Monday serving the nation and no politician even expressed sympathy or sorrow while they flocked to Dadri.
The forum strongly condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement when in a public rally he stated that he had to divert the funds meant for poor people to arrange for OROP funds by terming it as “politically motivated, not substantiated with the facts” and has hurt the honour and dignity of the defence community.
The Front has also appealed to all MPs to take up this issue during the ensuing winter session of the Parliament. To democratically teach the respective Governments a lesson which are opposed to the well-being of the defence personnel, the activists have decided to oppose any political leadership all over the country who are not fighting for the well-being of defence services community.