OROP: Veterans boycott '65 war celebrations
NEW DELHI: Upset military veterans on Friday
boycotted the launch of the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war,
even as their negotiations with the government on implementation of one
rank, one pension (OROP) remained deadlocked despite further meetings.
The
almost month-long celebrations of the 1965 war began with President
Pranab Mukherjee paying tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate,
on a day when Indian soldiers had captured the strategic Hajipir Pass
from Pakistan 50 years ago.
READ ALSO:
PMO directly involved in addressing OROP, defence minister Manohar Parrikar says
PM
Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the soldiers who fought the 1965
war. "As we mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, I bow to all
brave soldiers who fought for our motherland in the war," the PM
tweeted.
But not even two km away from the Union government's
seat on Raisina Hill, the veterans at their Jantar Mantar protest site
were clearly unhappy with the continuing delay in implementation of the
much-promised OROP.
They commemorated the 1965 war's golden
jubilee event in their own quiet way, with participation from some who
had participated in the conflict like Brigadier (retd) D P Nayar, a
Hajipir operation veteran, and Wing Commander (retd) Vinod Nebb, who was
awarded the Vir Chakra for bringing down a Pakistani Sabre fighter.
The
veterans did meet home minister Rajnath Singh later in the day. But
much like the series of such meetings with defence minister Manohar
Parrikar, PM's principal secretary Nripendra Misra and Army chief
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, the impasse persisted.
The main bone
of contention has become the veterans' demand for "pension equalization"
at least once every two years, while the government is ready only for
"adjustment" at five-year intervals. Another sticking point is the date
of OROP implementation, with the veterans remaining steadfast about it
being effective from April 2014, as they were promised earlier. From an
earlier position of April 2015, the government has now come down to
September 2014.
READ ALSO: Demand for rolling pension change plan holds up OROP
Parrikar,
on his part, said the government was working "to fill in the small
gaps" and the ex-servicemen should have some patience since the PMO was
"directly involved" in resolving the OROP issue.
But this did not
go down well with the veterans, who sought an immediate appointment
with the PM. "We are rather disheartened. The government is saying it
(pension equalization) will be done after five years, which is totally
incorrect because it will defeat the very definition of OROP," said
Major-General (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen
Movement.
"We are not asking for more than what was sanctioned.
What they are offering us is not acceptable to us. I think the
bureaucracy is not in favour of giving us OROP. The intention is first
to dilute it and then deny it," he added.
Holding that they had
had "full faith" in Modi, the veterans said the PM should meet them to
understand the correct position. "All the wrong information fed by the
babus would be thrown away and what is right will be accepted and he
will give us OROP in totality," said Maj-Gen Singh.
READ ALSO: OROP talks remain deadlocked as veterans reject govt proposal
Grant
of full OROP will mean an additional annual cost of at least Rs 8,300
crore as pension for the over 25 lakh veterans in the country. Taking it
into account from April last year, it now adds up to at least Rs 16,600
crore, ahead of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission from 2016
onwards, as reported by TOI earlier.
Times View
The armed
forces personnel are among the most patriotic lot in the country. And as
people who have the country's interest upper most on their mind, they
must realise that their one-rank-one-pension (OROP) demand is simply not
feasible for any government to meet without seriously messing up its
finances not just for the present but for all time to come. If the
government accepts the demand that the pensions of all ex-servicemen
will increase each time anybody of the same rank retires, the sheer
scale of the pay-out will run into tens of thousands of crores a year at
present and keep escalating with each passing day. That is clearly not a
sustainable proposition. Those demanding such an arrangement are being
irresponsible. Both the UPA and NDA must also bear the blame for having
played competitive populism in promising they would accept the demand.
But ultimately this is not just about ex-servicemen, governments or
parties. It is the taxpayer whose money will be recklessly splurged if
the demand is accepted, and the country's future will be harmed. We are
sure that that is the last thing our brave and patriotic soldiers want.
Source:
http://mlife.mtsindia.in/
OROP: Veterans boycott '65 war celebrations
NEW DELHI: Upset military veterans on Friday
boycotted the launch of the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war,
even as their negotiations with the government on implementation of one
rank, one pension (OROP) remained deadlocked despite further meetings.
The
almost month-long celebrations of the 1965 war began with President
Pranab Mukherjee paying tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate,
on a day when Indian soldiers had captured the strategic Hajipir Pass
from Pakistan 50 years ago.
READ ALSO:
PMO directly involved in addressing OROP, defence minister Manohar Parrikar says
PM
Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the soldiers who fought the 1965
war. "As we mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, I bow to all
brave soldiers who fought for our motherland in the war," the PM
tweeted.
But not even two km away from the Union government's
seat on Raisina Hill, the veterans at their Jantar Mantar protest site
were clearly unhappy with the continuing delay in implementation of the
much-promised OROP.
They commemorated the 1965 war's golden
jubilee event in their own quiet way, with participation from some who
had participated in the conflict like Brigadier (retd) D P Nayar, a
Hajipir operation veteran, and Wing Commander (retd) Vinod Nebb, who was
awarded the Vir Chakra for bringing down a Pakistani Sabre fighter.
The
veterans did meet home minister Rajnath Singh later in the day. But
much like the series of such meetings with defence minister Manohar
Parrikar, PM's principal secretary Nripendra Misra and Army chief
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, the impasse persisted.
The main bone
of contention has become the veterans' demand for "pension equalization"
at least once every two years, while the government is ready only for
"adjustment" at five-year intervals. Another sticking point is the date
of OROP implementation, with the veterans remaining steadfast about it
being effective from April 2014, as they were promised earlier. From an
earlier position of April 2015, the government has now come down to
September 2014.
READ ALSO: Demand for rolling pension change plan holds up OROP
Parrikar,
on his part, said the government was working "to fill in the small
gaps" and the ex-servicemen should have some patience since the PMO was
"directly involved" in resolving the OROP issue.
But this did not
go down well with the veterans, who sought an immediate appointment
with the PM. "We are rather disheartened. The government is saying it
(pension equalization) will be done after five years, which is totally
incorrect because it will defeat the very definition of OROP," said
Major-General (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen
Movement.
"We are not asking for more than what was sanctioned.
What they are offering us is not acceptable to us. I think the
bureaucracy is not in favour of giving us OROP. The intention is first
to dilute it and then deny it," he added.
Holding that they had
had "full faith" in Modi, the veterans said the PM should meet them to
understand the correct position. "All the wrong information fed by the
babus would be thrown away and what is right will be accepted and he
will give us OROP in totality," said Maj-Gen Singh.
READ ALSO: OROP talks remain deadlocked as veterans reject govt proposal
Grant
of full OROP will mean an additional annual cost of at least Rs 8,300
crore as pension for the over 25 lakh veterans in the country. Taking it
into account from April last year, it now adds up to at least Rs 16,600
crore, ahead of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission from 2016
onwards, as reported by TOI earlier.
Times View
The armed
forces personnel are among the most patriotic lot in the country. And as
people who have the country's interest upper most on their mind, they
must realise that their one-rank-one-pension (OROP) demand is simply not
feasible for any government to meet without seriously messing up its
finances not just for the present but for all time to come. If the
government accepts the demand that the pensions of all ex-servicemen
will increase each time anybody of the same rank retires, the sheer
scale of the pay-out will run into tens of thousands of crores a year at
present and keep escalating with each passing day. That is clearly not a
sustainable proposition. Those demanding such an arrangement are being
irresponsible. Both the UPA and NDA must also bear the blame for having
played competitive populism in promising they would accept the demand.
But ultimately this is not just about ex-servicemen, governments or
parties. It is the taxpayer whose money will be recklessly splurged if
the demand is accepted, and the country's future will be harmed. We are
sure that that is the last thing our brave and patriotic soldiers want.
Source:
http://mlife.mtsindia.in/
