Arun Jaitley lacks understanding of OROP issue: Ex-servicemen

Expressing "anguish" at Arun Jaitley's remarks that annual revision of pension under 'One Rank, One Pension' (OROP) scheme was not possible, the agitating ex-servicemen today said the Union Finance Minister made such comment due to lack of understanding of the issue. 

Meanwhile, as the agitation reached 79th day on Tuesday, one more ex-serviceman, who has been on fast-unto-death since yesterday, had to be rushed to the hospital. "It seems that Mr Jaitley has no knowledge about the issue. I dare say, if he wants to understand the issue, I can explain it to him. He has never understood the issue because of which he has made this statement," Major Gen (retd) Satbir Singh said.

Yesterday, Jaitley had virtually ruled out annual revision of pension under OROP. To this, the veterans had yesterday said they were ready for biennial revision. "I have my own formula on what OROP means. Somebody else may have their own formula on OROP but it has to be within reasonable and rational criteria. You can't have an OROP where pensions are revised every month or every year," Jaitley had said.

Reacting to Jaitley's comments, Singh said, "We are very sad and feel anguished with his statement." As the agitation at Jantar Mantar here reached 79th day, Havladar (retd) Ram Niwas Yadav of the Medium ART was rushed to the hospital after his blood pressure dipped. Yadav, who joined the protest yesterday, was taken to the Army Research & Referral Hospital. Until now, 12 persons have participated in the fast-unto-death protest.