Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Friday said the government will soon implement 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme even as agitating ex-servicemen threatened to intensify their protest if any unilateral announcement is made which does not meet their long-standing demand.
The agitating ex-servicemen are accusing the government of "constantly shifting the goalpost" and not coming out with any "concrete proposal" to resolve the issue.
Ex-servicemen on Saturday protested against the delay in issue of official notification by the government to 'one rank one pension' scheme as announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in September.
Notwithstanding "advice" from Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to put off their stir, a third veteran on Tuesday joined the fast-unto-death by ex-servicemen as part of the agitation to press for implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' scheme.
Veterans protesting for early implementation of One Rank, One Pension are likely to meet Modi in the last week of August.
No headway was made on Thursday in resolving sticky issues for OROP implementation during talks between agitating ex-servicemen and government even as two more veterans on indefinite hunger strike were shifted to the army hospital following doctor's advice.
A group of ex-servicemen on Monday announced that they will boycott all official functions, including ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations of the victory in 1965 war, in protest against delay over implementation of "One Rank One Pension" by the government.
The 70-year-old ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide by consuming poison at a park in New Delhi area on Tuesday evening.
Another veteran Havildar Saheb Singh (retired) took his place and began the fast-unto-death.
Defence Minister Parrikar was in favour of granting OROP to ex-servicemen but pressure was exerted on him by his cabinet colleagues on the issue, Ram Jethmalani claimed.
Hundreds of army veterans held a 'Sainik Ekta' rally to press for "honest and truthful justice" as they rejected the One Rank One Pension scheme announced by the government even as some ex-servicemen groups dissociated themselves from the demonstration.
Havildar Abhilash Singh (retired) has been taken to hospital. He was on relay hunger strike.
The Deadlock over 'One rank, One Pension' persisted on Thursday with agitating ex-servicemen accusing the government of "constantly shifting goalpost" and "wasting time" even as a fresh round of back-channel talks were held.
Stepping in to pacify agitating ex-servicemen over the 'One Rank One Pension' issue, Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday held talks with representatives of the protesters who have agreed not to escalate their agitation for next 10 days.
The public agitation launched for the demand of OROP on June 6 completes 100 days.
Stepping up the agitation on 'One Rank One Pension', a fast-unto-death was launched by two of the protesting ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar
With no announcement on One Rank One Pension coming from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his nearly 90-minute speech at the Red Fort on the 69th Independence Day, ex-servicemen who have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi say they have been betrayed by the BJP-led government.
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