Her husband and son served in Army, now 95-year-old Charu Sheela fights for OROP with just one meal a day

It is not only the defence veterans and war widows who are protesting for the immediate implementation of One Rank One Pension but even their families are now actively taking part in the agitation. The battle for One Rank One Pension has been raging on for more than three decades with the ex-servicemen claiming it is about the honour and prestige of the armed forces. It is now being fought on the streets of Jantar Mantar in the national capital for the last 75 days.

With high spirits, enthusiasm and energy of a child, even a 95-year-old widow is protesting shoulder to shoulder with other defence veterans. The nonagenarian is Charu Sheela, the mother of Colonel Pushpender Singh and she has vowed to have only one meal a day till One Rank One Pension is implemented. It's been a week since she joined the protests and she has been having only one meal and drinks tea twice in a day.

"All of these soldiers are my children and I will continue to have only one meal a day till OROP is implemented, My health is fine and if you do anything wholeheartedly and then you definitely attain success," says Charu Sheela whose husband late Lieutenant Colonel Balbir Singh was an officer in the 4 Grenadiers. She has been visiting Jantar Mantar regularly and has also told his son to continue with his fight.

Colonel Pushpender Singh, who is on fast-unto-death since August 16, is admitted to the Army Research and Referral Hospital after his health deteriorated but he is still on fast.

Angered by the attitude of the Centre, Charu Sheela says, "Ex-servicemen are being tested time and again. The government isn't reliable. The government changes but the attitude towards the armed forces remains the same."

As the government did not make any announcement on the implementation of OROP, 1965 India-Pakistan war heroes boycotted the government's function at the India Gate and commemorated the same at Jantar Mantar. Major General Satbir Singh, Brigadier DP Nayar, Colonel VN Thapar, Wing Commander Vinod Nebb and Colonel Inderjeet Singh were some of the decorated soldiers who were at Jantar Mantar to show solidarity with the veterans and war widows.