The demand for OROP has been projected as an unambiguous issue but a good policy argument must have a sound economic element.
About 70 ex-servicemen on Tuesday sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the delay in implementation of the 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme even as the relay-hunger strike by retired soldiers on the issue entered its ninth day.
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.
Terming the attempts by war veterans to burn medals as an insult to the nation and armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said it was for protesting ex-service personnel to prove there was no political motive behind the OROP stir.
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.
On V K Singh branding the deceased as a Congress worker, he said all leaders must be 'sensitive' to the suicide.
War veterans will start returning their medals from Tuesday to protest the government notification on implementation of 'one rank-one pension', which they have rejected, and hit back at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his comments that not all their demands can be met.
Over 100 ex-servicemen have signed the petition asking for early implementation of OROP without any dilution.
The social activist said the OROP issue was agreed upon by the government in 2014 but was not implemented.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make announcement on the implementation of One Rank One Pension policy for ex-servicemen "as and when time comes".
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 long-pending One Rank One Pension Scheme for ex-servicemen was tonight brought into force with government issuing a notification which will benefit over 25 lakh veterans and war widows.
Government is looking at a "middle path" in resolving the "ticklish issue" of 'One Rank One Pension' demand of ex-servicemen, officials sources said.
I am fulfilling the promise that I have made, said the PM on One Rank One Pension.
Leaders of agitating ex-servicemen over One Rank One Pension met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday night after which they said the government was likely to come out with a "clarification" on its applicability to those who have opted for premature retirement.
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.
The military will now demand further pay and promotion parity with civilians
Parrikar's statement did not go down well with the protesters who said they are "disheartened".
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government will safeguard interests of soldiers retiring at an early age through higher pensions.
Seeking their "promised dues", ex-servicemen across the country began their relay-hunger strike on Sunday demanding that the government announce a date for the introduction of the 'One Rank One Pension' policy.
The relay hunger strike by retired soldiers demanding implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme enters Day 10.
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.
The One Rank, One Pension stir reached Goa on Wednesday with ex-army veterans beginning an indefinite relay strike.
More than 95 per cent people are benefiting from pension after the implementation of OROP, Parrikar said.
Jaitley said the government has been able to improve its budgeted expenditure.
Terming as "historic" the Centre's decision on 'One Rank, One Pension', the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the commitment he made to ex-servicemen and provided them economic security while Congress had only played a "joke" on them when in power.
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.
Upset over delay in formal notification of the one rank, one pension scheme, the protesting ex-servicemen today announced that they will return their medals across the country next week.
'We waited patiently for 17 months, which is enough time for any government to implement a policy. If they can't do it in 17 months, they are either incompetent or they simply don't want to do it.'
They may accept revision of pension once in two years instead of one year as demanded by them.
Protesting ex-servicemen allege they were manhandled by the Delhi police
The former defence minister said that all formalities were completed and all orders issued on OROP but its implementation is not being done by the Modi government.
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
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said most of the rest will get their new pension by Holi.
Whether Rajeev Chandrasekhar wins or not, Thiruvananthapuram will likely never see such an interesting contest again.
Havildar Abhilash Singh (retired) has been taken to hospital. He was on relay hunger strike.
The Congress vice president wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he was saddened at the decisions of the government taken in the last few weeks
Close to 300 of these veterans assembled at the protest site, very close to where a similar agitation is being held by the ex-servicemen of the armed forces for the prompt implementation of the OROP for them.
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.
More incentives will be given to agriculture sector for increasing agriculture production.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances