Ex-servicemen blame Jaitley for OROP deadlock

Expressing displeasure over Finance Minister Arun Jaitey's remark on the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) issue, ex-servicemen here today blamed the Union minister for the impasse and said their protest will continue till their demand is met.

"Though we don't have any complaint with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we fail to understand why he is silent on the issue despite promising at Rewari before coming to power and also at Siachen and at INS Vikramditya after becoming PM," Brigadier (Retd) Vinayak told reporters.

"With the recent statement of Jaitley on the issue, it appears that he and the officials are not in favour of implementing OROP," he said.

Jaitley had on Monday had virtually ruled out annual revision of pension as demanded by agitating ex-servicemen under OROP but said government will safeguard interests of soldiers retiring at an early age through higher pensions.

"We are agitating in a disciplined manner and only demanding that as recommended by the Koshiyari Committee, OROP should be implemented in toto," the retired armyman said, accompanied by other ex-servicemen and their family members.

To a query, Wing Commander (retd) D K Dixit said there arises no question involving serving armymen in the ongoing movement as for them discipline is foremost.

"We will continue with our protest in a disciplined manner," he said.

Vinayak said that if given an audience, they would raise the matter before the Prime Minister and Minister of State for External Affairs General (retd) VK Singh when they arrive in the city for Vishwa Hindi Sammelan, scheduled to be held from September 10-12.