Not all demands can be fulfilled: Manohar Parrikar on OROP scheme

New Delhi, Nov 9: With the protesting ex-servicemen dissatisfied with the formal notification of one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that everyone has a right to make a demand in democracy but not all demands can be fulfilled.

Underlining that the "maximum" demands of the veterans have been fulfilled, he said the judicial commission that will be set up, will look into the "problems". "This is democracy. Everyone has the right to demand. But the maximum their main demand for same pension for same rank has been given.

Rest is everything that we had declared (on September 5). Out of that, the confusion about VRS has been removed," Parrikar said on the sidelines of a function here.

He said, "Har ek cheez mangte hai, wohi agar satisfy hone laga to kabhi khatam nahi hoga, aur koi kuchh aur mangega (even if all demands are satifisfied, someone will ask for something else)."

The minister said that the "basic core issue" has been addressed and if there is a problem, the judicial commission will look into that. He was replying to questions on veterans being unhappy with the OROP notification issued by the government on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Air Force Chief Arup Raha said that the government has given directions on the OROP issue and everyone should accept it. He said that if anomalies were still persisting, these could be sorted out in due course of time.

The government had on Saturday formally notified the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh war widows in the country.

PTI