Ex-servicemen during their agitation over the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ delay in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
New Delhi, August 19
Representatives of ex-servicemen,
who have been protesting for the implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’
(OROP) scheme for the past 66 days, are likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra
Modi next week.
“The dates have not been fixed yet.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will meet Modi on August 23-24 and then we
will be informed about our meeting with the PM,” Major General Satbir Singh
(retd), chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), said.
Colonel Anil Kaul (retd), media
adviser to the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, said the meeting with Modi was on
the cards. “No dates have been fixed so far. It could be between August 24-26,”
he said.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh
Suhag had spoken to both Major General Satbir and IESM president Lt General
Balbir Singh (retd) over the issue.
To pacify agitating ex-servicemen,
the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday held talks with representatives of the
protesters who have agreed not to escalate their agitation for the next 10
days.
The meeting with Prime Minister’s
Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra at the PMO came on a day when a third
veteran joined the fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar, where the ex-servicemen
have been protesting demanding early implementation of the OROP.
In a statement issued today, the
ex-servicemen said Major General Satbir and Lt General Balbir told Misra that
if the government was serious about the interest of ex-servicemen, it would
have initiated action on the two other promises made in the BJP manifesto —
martyrs memorial and establishment of veterans’ commission to be chaired and
manned by ex-servicemen.
“Misra was
surprised and immediately called the MOD Secretary and asked to be briefed soon
on both issues.
The meeting ended without any assurance from both sides,” the
statement added. — PTI
The Tribune
