28 May, 2015 10:00 PM

War veterans boycott felicitation by Defence Minister to protest against delay in OROP implementation

In a strong protest against the Narendra Modi government’s alleged failure to deliver on the One Rank One Pension scheme, the Indian Ex- Servicemen Movement (IESM) — an organisation of defence services veterans — on Thursday boycotted a programme in Pune attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

According to the scheme, the same pension will be paid to personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of when they retired.

“The Modi government appears to have no intention on delivering on the OROP. Today’s function [with the Defence Minister] is mere eyewash, hence we have decided to boycott the event. However, we have not attempted to disrupt the function in any manner,” Cdr. (Retd.) Ravindra Pathak, coordinator, IESM pension cell, speaking to The Hindu.

Wing Commander Suresh Karnik, a highly-decorated 1971-war veteran and winner of the Vir Chakra, and Wing Commander Bhopadekar, who was awarded the Vayu Sena medal had been asked by the IESM to boycott the function.

In a letter to IESM members, Cdr. Pathak has accused the Modi government of deliberately delaying the implementation of the OROP contrary to the recommendations of the Koshiyari Committee and the Parliament’s approval of the just dues of ex-servicemen.

The felicitation was being used by the BJP government “as a diversion” owing to their inability to implement the OROP. The chief reason for this tardiness was the tussle between the Defence and Finance Ministries, the letter alleges.

The scheme, expected to benefit nearly 25 lakh ex-servicemen, is expected to cost the government more than Rs. 8,000 crore a year. It is fast proving to be a ‘tar baby’ for both the previous Congress-led UPA government as well as Mr. Modi’s BJP government, who had repeatedly assured of the scheme’s fulfilment in his pre-election campaign speeches.

More than 1500 ex-servicemen will be launching a protest in the city in June over the issue, informed Cdr. Pathak.