Ex-serviceman to boycott 1965 war events after OROP talks flop

Delhi: Retired military personnel boycott the government‘s celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of India ' s 1965 war with Pakistan due to delay the issue of one rank one pension. Talks became between the veterans and the government ended inconclusively on Thursday at night. Where a group of former military personnel walked out of a meeting. Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh met head of the Ex-serviceman at his South Block office on Thursday but there was "no forward movement". The government’s celebrations began on Friday with President of India Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, paying tribute to fallen soldiers at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, a memorial at India Gate in central Delhi. Ex-serviceman of the 1965 war said they would gather at Jantar Mantar to observe the golden jubilee and boycott the official function because the government has not yet issue OROP. They invited former military personnel and families of those who died in the 1965 war to gather at Jantar Mantar at noon on Friday. The Ex-serviceman have been protesting for 75 days to push their demand for Brigadier D P Nair, Veteran of the 1965 war, invited for the govt function but didn ' t go. Representatives of the ex-serviceman  said they will not accept the government ' s proposal to increase pensions every five years. The government appears unwilling to buckle under pressure from the veterans and defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make an announcement about OROP at the right time. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned about OROP in his speech on August 15. He will take a decision and will announce as and when time comes," Parrikar said. According to government more than more upset ex-serviceman protested at Jantar Mantar about delay the issue OROP. Around more than five ex-service man seated on hunger strike and have been hospitalised so far, including two on Thursday. The OROP scheme will ensure the same pension is paid to veteran of the same rank, regardless of when they retired. It is expected to benefit nearly 3 million defence pensioners and 600,000 widows. All personnel who retired before 2006, the year the 6th pay panel’s report became effective, receive smaller pensions than their counterparts and their juniors. A major general who retired in 1995, for instance, draws a basic pension of Rs 30,350 but an officer retiring in the same rank after 2006 gets Rs 38,500. Decorated veterans have in the past returned medals and signed petitions in blood to draw the government’s attention to the issue.