OROP stir: Veterans Observe “Black Diwali, Takes Out Protest March To Rashtrapati Bhawan

11 November, New Delhi

War veterans Wednesday escalated their protest against the notification on the implementation of ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP), taking out a march from Jantar Mantar to Rashtrapati Bhavan, saying a “diluted” OROP scheme was not acceptable.

Earlier, few of the veterans tried to burn medals at Jantar Mantar in protest, but later they were stopped by others, long with Major General (Retd) Satbir Singh asking not to burn medals.

Squadron leader O P Singh said, “Few of our veterans were burning the medals but later they quashed by the ex-servicemen association. Instead, we decided to march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan in protest to hand over the medals and other gallantaries directly to the President.”

“What prompts the protesting veterans to burn their medals that District Collector of Ambala city refused to accept the medals and gallantries recieved by the ex-servicemen,” he explained.

Later, a group of veterans today launched a protest march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan in protest but were stopped by the Delhi Police near Rail Bhavan.

The chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, Major General (Retd.) Satbir Singh, today accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of misleading the country with the “diluted” versions and turning his back on his assurance on OROP. Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his assurances in letter and spirit.

“He is the Prime Minister of India and if he is celebrating Diwali with the serving personnel, he is welcome to do so. Last time also he did that. But we veteran soldiers are celebrating a “Black Diwali” for the government’s apathy and injustice for not granting us the ‘One Rank One Pension’ as sanctioned by the Parliament,”