Addressing the nation, Modi said, "The issue of 'One Rank One Pension' came up in front on every government. Some even made small promises. Issue could not be solved. But I assure the servicemen and I am saying it under the Tricolour from the Red Fort- we have accepted OROP."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday once again failed to give a timeline for the implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme, leading to anguish among ex-servicemen.
Addressing the nation on the occasion of Independence Day, Modi said, "The issue of 'One Rank One Pension' has come up in front of every government. Some even made small promises but the issue could not be solved. I assure the servicemen and I am saying this under the tricolour at the Red Fort, we have accepted OROP."
He further added, "'One-Rank, One-Pension' is a long-pending issue, discussions are underway and in last stages. We will have good news soon."
However, veterans rejected the Prime Minister's assurance terming it a "Black Independence Day" for ex-servicemen of the country.
Major General (retd.) Satbir Singh said that bureaucracy is the main obstacle in the implementation of OROP. "This is not about hope, this is our right. This is injustice, it has already been 17 months, what is stopping the government. The bureaucracy does not want that it is given to soldiers. We will intensify the agitation," he said.
Wing Commander CK Sharma echoed similar views and said that they would embark on protest until death. "For a Prime Minister to stand on ramparts of Red Fort and say such a blatant lie is something we did not expect. Our protest will be upgraded. We will embark on ?amaran anshan? (protest till death) now," he said.
The One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme has been a longstanding demand of nearly three million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement
Prime Ministers assurance on OROP led to chaos at Jantar Mantar as veterans raised 'Shame Shame' slogans against the government. Veterans have also decided to launch a new agitation on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari hit out at PM Modi and said not announcing OROP is betrayal. He said, "The OROP row represents perhaps the greatest betrayal of this government. PM tried to spin the issue."
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that the government will fulfil the assurances given on the One Rank One Pension scheme. He said that there were some technical discrepancies, but the government will implement the OROP.
"We'll implement OROP. There are technical disparities but we are bound by our assurance and we will comply by it," Parrikar said speaking at a press conference.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "PM Modi fails to announce 'OROP'")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}