Trouble continues to mount on the Narendra Modi government with ex-servicemen not relenting from their demand of immediate implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP).
The health of Havaldar (retired) Major Singh, who has been on fast for the last 14 days, deteriorated on Saturday but he initially refused to leave the protest site at Jantar Mantar and get admitted to a hospital.
The ex-servicemen said that the government be responsible if anything happens to the fasting veteran.
Group Captain (Retd) VK Gandhi said, "Havaldar Major Singh's health is deteriorating. He is on fast-unto-death for 14 days. If something happens to him, then government will be responsible."
Later, Havaldar Major Singh agreed to go to a hospital but only for a check up after some veterans persuaded him to do so.
Meanwhile, the United Front of ex-servicemen wrote a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee regarding the deteriorating health condition of fasting veterans, including that of Havaldar Major Singh.
"Havaldar Major Singh started fast-unto-death on Aug 16 and is on 14th day of fast and doctors have declared that his medical condition have deteriorated to dangerous level. He needs immediate admission in hospital to save his life. Havaldar Major Singh refusing to be evacuated to hospital and is steadfast in his resolve that he will not take any medical treatment till OROP is approved as per definition," said the letter.
Havaldar Ashok Chauhan, who had been taken to the Army hospital on August 25, returned to Jantar Mantar, continuing his fast-unto-death over OROP.
Despite government representatives, including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh meeting the protesting ex-servicemen over the implementation of OROP, there has been no breakthrough on the issue.
On Friday, the Union Home Minister had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue, following a meeting with a delegation of ex-servicemen.
Agitating ex-servicemen had on Friday boycotted the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war after rejecting the government's latest offer on resolving the issue of OROP.
The ex-servicemen have been protesting for more than two months at Jantar Mantar in the national capital demanding early implementation of OROP.
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