RETURNING MEDALS AN INSULT TO NATION: MANOHAR PARRIKAR

NEW DELHI (TIP): The government is fast losing patience with military veterans who continue to protest against what they say is a “diluted” one rank, one pension (OROP). Holding that attempts by some to burn their medals was “an insult” to the nation, defence minister Manohar Parrikar put the onus on the ex-servicemen to prove there was no political motive behind their continuing agitation.

“If I say anything, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not political,” Parrikar said in response to queries if he saw any political linkage to the continuing agitation after the government first announced OROP on September 5 and then notified it on November 7.

Speaking after dedicating the first squadron of P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu on Friday, Parrikar said medals were awarded to military personnel for bravery and recognition of their sacrifices for the nation. “Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the armed forces… I don’t appreciate it,” he said.

Instead, the veterans should submit their grievances to the one-person judicial commission that was being set up to look into the anomalies arising out of OROP implementation. “We have given the maximum possible, and fulfilled the promise made by BJP during the elections,” he said.

The OROP notified for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh widows in the country will entail an additional outgo of over Rs 8,000 crore every year. OROP basically means payment of uniform pension to personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

But the veterans say the government has not resolved any of the seven main anomalies pointed out by them. They are particularly incensed that the government did not accept their case for “pension equalization or adjustment” every year, and instead notified that it will be done only at five-year intervals. This, the veterans say, will mean “one rank, five pensions” and not OROP as it has been consistently defined.

An even bigger worry for the armed forces is the notification clause that serving personnel who now opt for premature retirement (PMR) or discharge will not get OROP benefits. “This is totally against the overarching aim to keep the armed forces young and fighting fit,” said a senior officer.

“The entire cadre management of the forces, which have a steeply-pyramidal promotional structure, is dependent on hundreds of officers and thousands of jawans taking PMR every year after finishing their pensionable service. This ensures recruitment of young and fresh blood,” he added.

1 Comment

  1. Silent majority of veterans are with agitation members. Even
    all serving members are also with the agitation members. Only difference is
    serving military doesn’t have any association like IAS, IPS or any other
    civilian central service organization. Please don’t live in fool’s paradise
    that both serving and retired military fraternity is happy with notification as
    propagated by Gen Kadyan or veteran leaders like him who have their own axe to
    grind against Gen Satbir. Some of these veteran leaders supposed to toe the
    govt line are AAP candidates in last election and now blame Gen Satbir for
    political ambitions. Is contesting elections from the party of choice debarred
    for veterans? Wait for 2019 – this silent majority will teach a lesson to this
    DM who is openly abusing agitation leaders. Returning medals is not good idea
    and burning them is certainly bad but that might have been an isolated case
    with emotional outburst. DM is behaving as if he is going to fight next
    election against Gen Satbir? Have a heart your Excellency? This guy is 88 years
    old and suffering so much for the cause of veterans and he and his team feels
    increasingly insulted by govt attitude. Was there any reason in electing AAP or
    RJD in assembly elections? So we start abusing the people who made emotional
    decisions like people of Delhi or Bihar or team Gen Satbir?

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