After bitter scuffle, Delhi Police allows ex-servicemen to continue protest at Jantar Mantar

The Delhi Police has conceded to the demands of the ex-servicemen and has allowed them to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar. Owing to the security ahead of Independence Day, the police had earlier in the day tried to evict the veterans from the spot to sanitise the area.

Allowing the protest, the police has said that there can only be a certain number of ex-servicemen in the area. The situation has stabilised and a peaceful demonstration by a limited number of protestors is being held at Jantar Mantar.

A scuffle earlier had ensued at Jantar Mantar after the Delhi Police forcibly tried to evict the ex servicemen from the area. The ex-servicemen, who have been protesting over their demand for the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme, had refused to budge and move out of Jantar Mantar. Adamant on their stand, they had said that they will not leave the protest site till their demands are met.

The retired armed forces personnel had on Thursday outrightly rejected the latest proposal on One Rank One Pension offered by the Narendra Modi government. The ex-servicemen have maintained that they do not want any change and do not want the OROP to be diluted. The veterans want OROP to be implemented in letter and spirit as approved by Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce implementation of the long delayed OROP scheme on August 15 when India celebrates its 69th Independence Day.

The ex-servicemen, who have been protesting against the delay in the implementation of the scheme, said they will wait till August 15 for the announcement and if the government does not heed to their demands, they will step up their protests.

One Rank One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country. It seeks 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.

Despite the Prime Minister's assurances, the scheme continues to elude ex-servicemen.