OROP: Army veterans to welcome Parrikar with black flags; boycott govt function

New Delhi, July 7: The protest for delay in implementation of One Rank One Pension has not come to an end and if reports are to be believed then, ex-servicemen will hold a protest march from Military Station at Bathinda on July 8 demanding One Rank One Pension (OROP).

Not only this, as per an Indian Express report, "Ex-servicemen organisations have decided to show black flags to the Defence Minister, Manohar Parikkar, when he comes to Mohali on July 12 and boycott the Punjab government function he is coming to attend."

Parrikar will be in Mohali to inaugurate Punjab government's Armed Forces Preparatory Academy for Girls.

"We have also decided to boycott the function of the Punjab government because we do not wish to be part of any function which has the government backing till the issue of OROP is resolved," Lt Col SS Sohi (retd), President of Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell was quoted as saying in the report.

President of the Indian Ex Services League (Punjab), Brig (Retd) Inder Mohan Singh said that their aim is to organise peaceful disciplined protest at Bathinda to apprise the serving soldiers who are going to be tomorrow's veterans. He said that memorandum would also be presented to the concerned authority on that day.

Brig (Retd) Singh said that Punjab has 14 army stations and 5 Air Force stations and such protest rallies would also be organised at every station.

Regarding the political brouhaha, he said, "The last UPA government continued to make a mockery of the issue by announcing different versions of OROP ..." Whereas the BJP made it a part of its poll plank during the last Lok Sabha elections but now nothing is being done to fulfil the promise, he said.

As per an ANI report, "the Defence Minister is likely to meet ex-Army personnel today to discuss the issue. Manohar Parrikar is expected to meet the protesters before his schedule visit to Mohali on July 12."

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)