OROP row: Ex-servicemen call off hunger strike; but protests to continue

Addressing a press conference here, Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the association leading the agitation, said the protest will continue till four specific points raised by the ex-servicemen are not accepted by the government.

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“We urge all those who are on hunger strike to withdraw it as the PM has clarified on the issue of premature retirement. But our protest will continue till the government accepts four points raised by us,” he said.

Watch video: Understanding The Unresolved Issues In OROP (One Rank One Pension) Implementation

He said ex-servicemen may resume hunger strike again if the government fails to resolve the pending issues.

Read: ‘BJP had eye on Bihar polls while announcing OROP’

“We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling the promise of one rank-one pension. We thank the defence minister but there are four issues to be resolved including the period of equalisation of pension,” Singh said.

Watch video –  Explained: One Rank One Pension

The veterans, who have been pressing for one rank-one pension (OROP) for four decades, yesterday won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.

Read – Defence chiefs want DACP-like scheme for military officers

The issue of whether the scheme would cover ex-servicemen who have taken premature retirement had emerged as a major sticking point.

They met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday and later said his clarification in this regard was “satisfying”.