As the protest over One Rank One Pension scheme completes 74 days, the Narendra Modi government and defence veterans held a series of meetings to look into nitty gritty of implementing the proposal at the earliest.
Representatives of the former defence personnel met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Thursday evening, sources told IBNLive.
But the sources added that a meeting with Defence Ministry officials did not happen. Veterans are likely to hold meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Home Ministry officials on Friday.
These meetings also assume significance as the nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1965 Indo-Pak war on August 28.
War veterans want the implementation of One Rank One Pension in word and in principle without any compromise. Sounding positive that the scheme will be implemented soon, Major General (retired) Satbir Singh said, "We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to come here and make the announcement."
With dwindling trust in the Modi government, veterans are also questioning why the government want to celebrate 50th anniversary of 1965 Indo-Pak war if the soldiers who fought the war are on streets.
"If the government fails to make the announcement on OROP by tomorrow, then more veterans will sit on fast-unto-death, rallies will be held, black flags will put at every house, more youth will join," Major General Singh said.
Ex-servicemen have already made it clear that they will boycott all government functions till the scheme is implemented.
The government made two proposals but both were rejected by the veterans. The proposals are that the government wanted the scheme to be in effect from April 1, 2015. The scheme has to be in effect from April 1, 2014, said the protesting veterans.
The second proposal is that the government wants 2011 to be the base year for pension which dilutes the principle of OROP.
"Why should we leave our dues. It is a question of principle. It is our legitimate right," said Group Captain VK Gandhi.
"There is no confusion in the OROP. There is only one definition, one implication and one calculation. The bureaucracy is the only roadblock," added Singh.
The OROP scheme was sanctioned by both UPA and NDA government and has got legal sanction of the Supreme Court.
"Governments have been degrading, downgrading and ill-treating Armed Forces. We are angry and feel humiliated. Seventy per cent of soldiers are children of the retired officers," added Singh.
Till now, nine war veterans and a father of a martyr are on fast-unto-death. Colonel Pushpender Singh, Havaldar Major Singh, Havaldar Ashok Chauhan, Havaldar Sahib Singh, Major Piar Chand Rana, Naik Uday Singh, Commander AK Sharma, Vijay Singh Yadav, SWR Keshav Singh and Samwal Ram Yadav, father of martyr Sunil Kumar Yadav are on the fast-unto-death.
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