As a mark of protest on the inordinate delay in implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, the ex-servicemen of Uttarakhand would attend the ceremony of unveiling the ‘War Memorial’ by Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar sporting black arm bands. The ceremony is slated on August 22 in Dehradun. A decision in this respect was taken in the meeting of office bearers of United Front of ex servicemen here on Monday.
The veterans resolved to continue their struggle for OROP and decided that only a handful of ex servicemen would attend the programme in which the Defence Minister is scheduled to address the ex servicemen during his visit to State capital, on a pre condition that they would be allowed to ask questions from the Minister. The spokesperson of the front, Colonel P l Parashar (Rtd) said that a massive rally of ex servicemen would be organised in the State capital on August 23. The details of the rally are being worked out. He said that the ex-servicemen of the state are united in their condemnation of the manhandling of their fellows at Jantar Mantar on August 14 by Delhi police personnel. Col Parashar said that the guilty of manhandling veterans should be identified and punished.
The meeting was attended by Major General lalji D Singh (Rtd), Major General Chander Nandwani (Rtd), Brigadier R S Rawat (Rtd), Brigadier K G Behl (Rtd), Subedar Major Neil Thapa (Rtd), lt Col Mall (Rtd) and others.