OROP row: military Ex-servicemen to return medals today

DELHI: The Indian Ex-servicemen personnel has confirmed to return their medals on Tuesday to protest against the government notification on implementation of OROP scheme, which they have rejected. Indian Ex-servicemen are returning their medals due to govt issued notification for OROP implementation that is not favour of OROP. The move is also a response to defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ’s remarks that not all the demands of the veterans can be met. The medals will be returned by military veterans outside the busy terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Group captain Ex-serviceman VK Gandhi, general secretary of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said veterans would return medals at mob places to educate the common man about the issue. “We reject the OROP notification by the government. We will continue with agitation and intensify it further,” Gandhi said. “Will request all ex-servicemen to return their medals and explain to citizens that OROP has not been given to us. The OROP notification issued by the government is not favour in one rank, one pension. In fact. As the government on Saturday formally notified the OROP scheme that will benefit more than 2.4 million veterans and 600,000 war widows. However, the scheme was rejected by former military personnel, who launched a movement earlier this year to pressure the government to accept their demands. Veterans will start returning their medals during November 10-11 and district magistrates across the country have been informed about the protest, he said.