OROP protest continues, rallies planned in poll-bound states

Continuing their agitation against delay in implementation of the "One Rank, One Pension" (OROP) scheme, ex-servicemen on Wednesday said they would launch similar stir in all poll-bound states.

"The government is not fulfilling its promise and not even giving us a dateline for implementing the scheme," Indian ex-Servicemen Movement chairman Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (retd) told IANS.

"We will go to Patna, and all other poll-bound states and scale up the agitation," he said.

Singh said reports that the government was planning to implement OROP ahead of Bihar elections made one wonder if it was aimed at getting votes.

"What does it mean when reports say the government is planning to implement scheme before Bihar election? Do they think this will make us vote for them," he wondered.

With 'One Rank, One Pension', defence personnel who retired in the past would be able to draw the same pension as officers and soldiers of the same rank retiring now.

OROP is expected to benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen and widows of defence personnel.