OROP row: Veterans reject govt formula for implementation of scheme

New Delhi: Deadlock persisted over the ‘One Rank One Pension’ row as the protesting ex-servicemen on Wednesday rejected government’s formula for its implementation saying an attempt was being made to “short change” them. [caption id=“attachment_2409254” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] “Government is hell bent on short changing. There are only three points of contention,” a key functionary of the ex-servicemen community said. The government wants 2011 to be the base year besides no three per cent annual increase, he said, adding it also wants payment to begin from 1 April, 2015 as against the agreed date of 1 April, 2014. “We have rejected the proposal. Escalation of our protest in expected. The complicated arithmetic will mean reduced payout,” he said. The development came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi held consultations with his key Cabinet ministers on “overall situation” in the country arising out of politically charged issues including OROP. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari. Meanwhile, two more joined the fast-unto-death on Wednesday. They were retired Navy commander AK Sharma and Sanwal Ram Yadav, father of martyr Lance Naik Sunil Kumar Yadav. Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag had on Tuesday night held a two-hour long meeting with representatives of ex-servicemen. Government sources indicated that in the wake of differences persisting, it may take some more time before a final resolution is found. It was speculated that the government might announce OROP on 28 August, the 50th anniversary of 1965 war with Pakistan. Close to 22 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be the immediate beneficiaries of the scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when he or she retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996. PTI