In a huge disappointment for the ex-servicemen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday refrained from making any commitment on the much-awaited 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for the former defence personnel and war widows.
Reacting sharply to the PM's Independence Day speech, the protesting ex-servicemen said that the OROP had already been accepted in principle in the past. "I am sorry, it was accepted in principle 17 months ago and he has also accepted it. I want to ask the Prime Minister, what is holding the implementation of OROP," Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement Major General Satbir Singh (Retd), questioned.
"According to us, there is nothing but bad intention of the bureaucracy and it is given to them by the political system which is holding it now," Singh said.
Some veterans even went to the extent of calling Prime Minister a "liar" and said that the OROP protests would only intensify.
The protesters had put up a large LCD screen at Jantar Mantar to watch Modi's speech. However, as soon as they realised that Modi has not announced OROP, they switched it off.
"I am ashamed of the PM. We want the OROP without any dilution. What talks, when and how long. Where is General VK Singh, where is Colonel Rathore? Why haven't they resigned," said Deepa Neb, whose husband as well as father served in the defence forces. Former Army Chief General (retired) VK Singh and Colonel (retired) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore are ministers in the Modi government.
"Time and again, Modi has been saying Team India, actually Team India today has failed the real Team India. Are we not part of Team India," a retired Brigadier asked.
"BJP had said in its poll manifesto that it would fulfil the OROP policy within hundred days of the NDA coming to power. Now we will take our fight to Bihar where elections are going to take place and spread his lies." Singh added.
Reacting to the PM's statement that the issue was complicated, but the talks are in its final stage and a positive outcome is likely to be out soon, they said their protests would continue. Asked what will be the next course of action as they have been protesting for over two months, he said, "Our core committee will sit and decide".
While it was being speculated that Modi might make an announcement on OROP in his speech on Independence Day, he did not give a specific timeline for the implementation of the scheme. He stressed that talks were in final stages to work out the nitty-gritty and reiterated that the government has in-principle accepted the demand for OROP.
Terming soldiers as a strength, treasure and energy of the country, Modi accepted that despite his coming to power, the solution for the long-delayed OROP issue has not been found yet.
Pointing out that many governments have come and gone for years and the OROP issue came before each one of them, Modi said the OROP has been in-principle accepted by his government but talk are still on with various stakeholders.
"Every government has even given small promises but the issue has not been resolved. Even after I came, I have not been able to do it till now. Today, I am assuring my soldiers once again... in-principle OROP has been accepted by us but talks with stakeholders are on," he said.
"A solution has to be found for an issue which has been lingering for 20-25 years. I expect good news seeing the way the talks are going on. And that is why I again promise that in-principle, this government has accepted OROP," he said.
The Prime Minister said that talks are being held with the stakeholders to work out the nitty-gritty and modalities. "We have to move forward by talking," he said.
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