Taking strong exception to some war veterans returning their medals to register protest against ‘One Rank One Pension(OROP)’ notified by the Government last week, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday here termed such acts as an insult to the nation and questioned political motive behind the stir.
Asking the protesters who were surrendering their medals in several parts of the country, Parrikar said it was for the protesting veterans to prove there was no political motive behind the protest.
“If I say something, it will become an allegation. let them prove that it is not political,” he said when asked if he saw a political link to continuing agitation despite the government issuing the notification.
Defending the OROP, the Minister said the Government has done the maximum it could do while sanctioning the scheme. “We have given them the maximum amount. You have to remember that the OROP was a promise made by the party before the election. All the major demands made by the ex-servicemen have been met. It is only a truncated organisation which is continuing with the agitation. In a democratic society all have the freedom to agitate,” Parrikkar told reporters at the sidelines of the function held to dedicate P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the service of the nation.
Criticising the protestors for returning their medals, he also said “medals are recognition of bravery, for the service to the nation. It has nothing to do with service conditions whereas OROP is with service conditions. It does not say you are entitled for medals.”