Ex-soldiers burn effigies of PM, FM, Defence Minister for OROP delay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

Expressing total dissatisfaction with the Centre over non-implementation of the promised One Rank, One Pension (OROP) formula for the armed forces, ex-servicemen today burnt effigies of the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Finance minister as a mark of protest at a rally held in Mohali today.

Demanding a “date bound” implementation of the OROP instead of vague assurances, protesters said they would greet Defence minister Manohar Parrikar with black flags during his visit to Mohali on July 25 to inaugurate the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls and boycott the function.

Members of the Indian Ex-Services League, the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, the All India Defence Brotherhood, the Ex-Servicemen’s Grievances Cell, the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, the Ex-Servicemen’s Joint Action Front (Sanjha Morcha) and several other ex-servicemen bodies took part in the rally.

Among senior retired officers present at the rally were Lt Gen SR Ghosh, former GOC-in C, Western Command, Lt Gen RS Sujlana, former Commandant of the Indian Military Academy, Maj Gen DP Singh, Maj Gen IP Singh and Maj Gen Amarjit Singh, besides several brigadiers and colonels.

“We defeated Pakistan, captured 93,000 prisoners of war and created a new country (Bangladesh) in 13 days from December 4-16, in 1971, but the Modi Government could not issue a notification for implementation of the ‘already approved’ OROP formula despite being in power for over 14 months,” a veteran said.

Veterans said the government was forcing a loyal and disciplined community to resort to “direct action”, which may lead to disastrous consequences, considering the fact that many veterans had their sons and other close relations in the defence forces.