IANS
New Delhi


Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday met former servicemen protesting the notification on ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) and said the Centre “cheated” the armed force veterans by announcing a “diluted” scheme.
“The union government has cheated the army veterans by implementing a diluted OROP scheme,” Kejriwal said.
Supporting the ongoing protest of ex-servicemen, the chief minister demanded reconsideration of the changes made by the government in the implementation of the scheme.
Kejriwal said the scheme should be implemented in its original form as demanded by the veteran servicemen.
“It is unfortunate that the ex-servicemen are out on the streets for their rights. The central government should implement the OROP in its true spirit,” he said.
After meeting the aggrieved veterans, Kejriwal tweeted: “Met army veterans at Jantar Mantar. All their demands are logical. Government has been unjust to them. Centre should immediately accept their demands.”
Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Chandni Chowk, Alka Lamba, Delhi Cantonment legislator Surender Singh, Bijwasan MLA, Devendra Sekhawat, and party leader Raghav Chaddha also expressed solidarity with the ex-servicemen.
Meanwhile, the ex-servicemen protesting at the Jantar Mantar in central Delhi said they would continue with their agitation as they were fighting for their rights. They said the armed forces veterans would not accept a “diluted” OROP scheme.
Major General Satbir Singh (retd), spearheading the Indian ex-servicemen’s movement on the issue, said: “We are happy that (the) Delhi CM is here to support us in our fight. We reject government’s notification on OROP. We will not accept this diluted OROP scheme.”
The veterans have decided to intensify their agitation that continued for the 152th day yesterday. Earlier this week, they returned their medals to register their protest against the government notification on OROP.
The veterans listed seven contentious changes made by the government, including annual equalisation, 2013-14 as the base year for calculating pension, and taking the highest pension scale of 2013 as the base for calculation of pension.
As per the government notification, the OROP scheme would be reviewed once in five years and not annually. According to Singh, the government was offering “One Rank, Five Pensions”.
Meanwhile Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that attempts by war veterans to burn their medals as a protest against the OROP scheme is an insult to the nation and the armed forces.
Parrikar was at INS Rajali in Arakonam, around 70km from Chennai, to dedicate the P8i aircraft to the nation.
The induction of the long-range maritime patrol P8i aircraft will enable the Indian Navy to undertake extensive surveillance and swift action, he stressed.
Parrikar told reporters medals were a recognition of the sacrifices made by the armed forces and not connected with the service conditions.
He said those aggrieved by the scheme notified by the government can put their demands before the judicial commission, which has been formed to review the OROP scheme’s shortfalls.
Parrikar flew in to INS Rajali, a premier naval air station, aboard a P8i from Port Blair yesterday morning.
During the flight, Parrikar was briefed on the various sensors and other sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment on board and their capabilities.