Over 2,000
ex-servicemen protesting against the government's "diluted"
one-pension-one rank scheme today returned their medals in Delhi, Haryana and
Punjab, the organizations spearheading the movement claimed today as they hit
back at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his "unlike soldiers
behaviour" remark aimed at them. "The veterans had threatened
to leave the medals on the road if we didn't accept it. Hence, we accepted
those," District Collector Sanjay Kumar told reporters. Colonel retd) Anil
Kaul, spokesman of the protesters in Delhi, said 2,000 ex-servicemen's medals
were deposited at the district collector's office. Our people from Mumbai,
Pune, Vadodara and Bangalore will return their medals next. By the way, this is
just the trailer," he added.
The OROP row had escalated
with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar terming
attempts by veterans to burn medals as an insult to the nation and asked the
protesting ex-servicemen to prove there was no political motive
behind their stir even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal voiced
support to them.
"If
I say something, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not
political," Parrikar told reporters in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu when asked
if he saw a political link to continuing agitation despite the government's
response and notification on One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
He said the medals are a recognition of the
nation for the sacrifice done by the armed forces. "Burning and
returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces," Parrikar said. The minister's comments come in
the wake of a section of the ex-service personnel expressing dissatisfaction on
the ground that the OROP notification
has not fully met their demands. The government had this month formally
notified the OROP scheme for over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows
in the country.
"Medals are a recognition of bravery, for the service to
the nation. It has nothing to do with service conditions whereas OROP is about
service conditions. It does not say you are entitled for medals, it talks about
service conditions like your pay and entitlement," Parrikar said.
On the
issue of grievances of protesting ex-servicemen, he said, "Let them put
the demands before the judicial committee, they will address it. "He
said implementing OROP was BJP's electoral promise and it had been fulfilled.
Earlier, he unveiled the first phase of the commissioning of Boeing P8i Long
Range Maritime Patrol aircraft fleet at Naval Air Station "INS
Rajali" in Arakkonam, about 85 kms from Chennai.
His comments came
on a day when Kejriwal visited the protesting ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar
wearing a cap and T-shirt with OROP slogans. He asked the Centre to implement
OROP for the veterans in its "true spirit" rejecting its recent
notification in this regard.
Kejiriwal also tweeted his support for the ex-
servicemen saying all their demands are "logical" and that the
BJP-led Centre has been "unjust" to them. "Centre shud
immediately accept their demands." The protesting ex-servicemen had
earlier met Kejriwal and briefed him about the "shortcomings" in the
OROP notification.
Kejriwal, who spoke to the media near the makeshift stage of
the protesting veterans, however, he did not address the gathering as he was
asked not to make any "political statement" by Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir
Singh, who is spearheading the movement. "The government notification is a
farce because it is not in its true spirit. Please don't fool the veterans.
Implement OROP as per its definition. They are not begging but asking for their
rights. It is unfortunate that the country's soldiers are fighting for their
rights on the streets," Kejriwal said.