Veterans to hold 'Gaurav Rally' to decide future OROP course

After getting clarity from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the issue of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), ex-servicemen protesting for the implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, on Sunday said that they would be organising a 'Gaurav Rally' on September 12 to decide their future course of action.

"Prime Minister Modi has said that rumours are being spread on the issue of VRS. We are not being misled. In fact, the media is being misled," Group Captain V.K. Gandhi (Retired) told the media here.

"The Prime Minister has said that he loves and respects ex-servicemen, and that the OROP would benefit all ex-servicemen," he added.

"We will organise a rally here on Saturday, named as the Gaurav Rally, where we will decide the future course of action," Gandhi added.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier said people were being misguided about the VRS policy, and added that the scheme would benefit all sections of the defence forces.

"Many people are trying to do politics. Those who didn't do anything for 40 years, have no right to speak on behalf of the jawan," Prime Minister Modi said, while inaugurating the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line in Faridabad Sports Complex.

On Saturday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the government has decided to implement the much awaited OROP scheme, and its benefit would be given to all ex-servicemen, excluding voluntary retirees, from July 1, 2014.