December 12, 2024 01:53 (IST)
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Anna Hazare joins ex-servicemen's OROP protest in Delhi
New Delhi, July 26 (IBNS): Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday reached Delhi's Jantar Mantar to join former servicemen's protest against the Centre over non-implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
Joining the protest, Hazare said, "It is because of the soldiers, civil persons can sleep in relief."
"Why are the soldiers denied fair pensions? Why can't they be given their due respects," he asked.
He asked that when politicians can make Rs. 50000 per month then why does a war widow gets only Rs.3000-4000 in this inflated market
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Hitting out at the continuous Parliament disruptions during the Monsoon Session, Hazare, who is himself an ex-servicemen, said: "Government is wasting Parliament public money."
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"I will do everything possible to get implemented OROP," Hazare said.
He hit out at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for not implementing the scheme even after committing to do so.
He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "He committed to implement OROP and bring back Black Money. Based on these promises lakhs of people voted for him (PM Modi). However, no money returned to India."
The 78-year-old Gandhian activist once again announced that he will begin a protest rally over One Rank, One Pension (OROP) from Oct 2, which is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
The strike will be staged at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.
Hundreds of retired defence personnel are holding protests across the country including in the national capital and had earlier sought President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention in the matter.
Implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' was one of the key promises made by the NDA government under PM Narendra Modi before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Defence Minister Parrikar had also said that the OROP "was on its way" but he could not give a clear idea about the date for its implementation.
Veterans have been demanding that Narendra Modi must fulfill his promise made a year back on the same.
In an attempt to mount up pressure on the government, veterans had also signed the petition in blood and presented to both the President and the Prime Minister.
The OROP scheme is 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.
According to reports, over twenty two lakh ex-army personnel and over six lakh widows are expected to be benefited from this scheme.
Presently, the pension scheme for the ex-army personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations, on the time they had retired. A Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996.
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