Veterans Sign Petition to PM in Blood For Implementation of OROP

Veterans protesting on the OROP issue signed a letter in blood demanding implementation and removal of ‘shortcomings’

Social activist Nafisa Ali showing her support for the ex-servicemen agitating for OROP at Jantar Mantar during the protests in September. (Photo: PTI)

The protesting ex-servicemen signed a letter to the Prime Minister in blood, demanding the early implementation of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme.

On the 133rd day of their relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the veterans said that the announcement made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 5 September regarding the implementation of OROP had “seven serious shortcomings”.

The letter claimed that if implemented without the removal of these shortcomings, the definition of OROP would be ‘killed.’

The letter further accused Parrikar of “changing the goalpost” every now and then and asked the Prime Minister to issue a notification to implement the OROP scheme at the earliest.

Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement spokesperson Col (retd) Anil Kaul said the letter was signed in blood by a number of people, which included 200 general officers.