OROP protest continues, likely to be scaled up

As the government failed to keep another promised deadline over 'One Rank One Pension', ex-servicemen on Wednesday said the agitation will be scaled up.

However, talks within government circles and negotiations with the veterans continued, as two of the veterans on a fast-unto-death, Col. Pushpender Singh (retd) and Hav. Ashok Chauhan (retd) continue to be in hospital.

Hav. Major Singh, whose condition is deteriorating, refused to leave the venue on Wednesday as well. He has been on fast since Monday last week.

Col. Anil Kaul (retd), spokesperson of the ex-servicemen front, said more meetings were expected on Wednesday.

"There are three points of contention -- one, the base year should be 2011, second, yearly increment, and payment dates," Col. Kaul said.

"The government's arithmetic means reduced payout. We have rejected it and the agitation is expected to be escalated," he said.

Wednesday is the 73rd day of protest.

The government had asked veterans to wait till August 26, promising action before that.

The ex-servicemen are demanding that there should be no change in the definition of OROP, the date of implementation should remain as April 1, 2014, and the base year must remain 2013-14.

That means all past pensioners would be brought at par with pension as existing on March 31, 2014.