New Delhi : Ex-servicemen protesting against the government notification on the implementation of One Rank, One Pension scheme on Tuesday returned their gallantry and other medals, accusing the government of cheating them. It is pointed out that the government has not accepted the wish list of the ex-servicemen. The veterans wanted equalisation of pension every year, or at least every two years, but the government has notified that it would happen only once in five years. The veterans again wanted the revised pensions to be fixed at the maximum of the pension being received by current retirees, but the government has announced that only an average of the maximum and minimum will be given. But the pensions of those who are receiving a higher pension than average will not be reduced.
The government has also notified the appointment of a judicial committee to look into anomalies of OROP. The panel will submit its report in six months. The veterans had wanted representation from the military and ex-servicemen in the committee, and its report within 90 days. However, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said ex-servicemen protesting against the OROP notification were misguided. He said while everyone had a right to make a demand in a democracy, not all demands can be fulfilled. Jumping into the row, the Congress charged that the BJP government was continuing with its deception game in the matter of fulfilling its campaign promises. ”Once again it has been proved that the BJP’s poll promises are mere jumlas. We are seeing the latest example of this in the implementation of the one rank, one pension demand,” said party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
