OROP: Ex-servicemen hold candle light march in Jammu

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The ex-servicemen held a candle light march here on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) policy.

Those participating in the march, carried placards with messages, such as "Black march for one rank one pension" and "We support OROP."

"The talks on OROP have been going on for the last 40 years. During the elections, the current government had promised that they would implement it, but it has been more than a year now and they have not fulfilled their promise," said one of the ex-servicemen.

"Many of our veterans are protesting in Jantar Mantar in Delhi over this issue. We, the ex-servicemen of Jammu, extend our support to those in Jantar Mantar," he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP has stated that it was committed to end the OROP deadlock.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier hinted at the possibility of the government approving the OROP scheme for retired armed forces personnel, but did not give any concrete ruling on the matter.

OROP scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country.

It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.