Stressing that the ex-servicemen should unite and contest election to become part of the election process, Major General Satbir Singh who has been leading OROP movement at the national level by the retired personnel of the Army, said that the stir over demand of one rank one pension (OROP) in its complete form would continue. He said this while addressing the ex-servicemen in Dehradun on Saturday. Speakers on the occasion said that the Prime Minister is yet to act on the promise he made at Rewari in Haryana.
They further said that they were aggrieved with the Centre sitting on the recommendations of the Koshiyari Committee- approved twice by the Parliament- despite the Prime Minister promising to implement it at Rewari.
They demanded that the recommendation of the one- man commission by justice Ready should apply for all the veterans.
The speakers said that they would form a party of their own if the Centre continues to sleep on the long-standing demand of one rank one pension (OROP). They said their stir, now going on at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, would intensify in the coming days to force the indifferent Centre to meet it.
They said that they were proud of serving the nation in uniform while adding that they deserved due respect. They stressed that they were not begging and were just asking for their rights. They were neither against nor in favour of any political party, they said, adding that the party if it comes into being would work whole-heartedly for the cause of the nation.
Message of Dr Ram Jethmalani, MP Rajya Sabha was read out in the meeting in which he said, “ I am fulfilling my promise and a writ petition for OROP has been filed in Supreme Court and will be soon coming for hearing. I shall be putting all my acumen and experience on representing OROP case in the court.”
Among those present on the occasion were Group Captain VK Gandhi, Wing Commander Vinod Naib, Colonel Satish Sharma, Colonel JS Cheema, UESl president Brigadier RS Rawat, Brigadier RS Rawat, Brigadier Vijay Kumar and Colonel Parasar.