Complications in OROP sorted out, Parrikar tells veterans

Complications in the "One Rank, One Pension" (OROP) scheme for the armed forces personnel have been sorted out, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told protesting ex-servicemen here on Friday.

"The defence minister said the file of OROP has come back to his ministry. He said the complications have been sorted but no date has been given," Col. (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesman of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, told IANS.

Kaul said their agitation would continue and if they don't get a response from the government by July 15, the protest will be stepped up.

"MPs want to raise their own salary. While it was raised by 300 percent in 2010, they want a treasure again now. A usual public servant gets 30 percent increase in salary," he said.

"But OROP is difficult for them to implement," he said.

The ex-servicemen have been sitting on relay hunger strike since June 15. On Friday, 56 veterans sat on hunger strike.