OROP stand-off continues; ex-servicemen threaten to intensify stir

New Delhi, September 4

The stand-off over ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP) today showed no signs of easing, with the agitating ex-servicemen rejecting revision of pension every five years and threatening to intensify their protest if the government makes a “unilateral” announcement as is being speculated.

Amid persistent reports that the government would go ahead with the announcement in the next couple of days before the model code of conduct sets in ahead of the Bihar polls, Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, spokesman of the retired personnel, made it clear that the sticking point was the revision of pension.

Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, said tonight they were willing to agree to 2014 as the base year for acceptance of OROP and July of that year for payment of arrears but insisted that the revision should be every year.

“We reject any unilateral action by the government which does not meet our key demands.  We will not accept.  We will intensify our agitation across the country taking it from 80 to 800 places,” he asserted.

Earlier in the day, BJP president Amit Shah said the government will soon implement ‘one rank, one pension’ scheme.

Briefing reporters on the RSS’ coordination meeting, where the issue of OROP also figured, Sangh spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said the BJP president was of the view that it will be done quickly.

“BJP chief Shah said OROP will be implemented soon,” Vaidya said.

Satbir Singh said pension revision should be every year.

Otherwise, it would amount to ‘one rank, five pensions’, which is not acceptable, he said.

Expressing willingness to talk to the government, he regretted that only twice the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister had talked to them 10 days ago.

The base year of 2014 and revision every year is a promise that was sanctioned by Parliament twice and accepted by two governments, which should be implemented, he said.

Asked whether the ex-servicemen would go and campaign against the BJP in Bihar on the issue, he said they would go to where ever elections would be held.

Ex-servicemen are major opinion makers in villages and they would conduct a campaign whether it is Bihar or Punjab whenever elections would be held, he said.

Singh made it clear that their movement was apolitical.

“There are reports that the government may soon unilaterally declare the implementation of OROP. If it is as per our terms and conditions then we will welcome it and thank the government.

“If not, then the unilateral declaration is unacceptable to us. We will intensify our protests,” said Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd), Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen movement. — PTI