We are heartbroken, say ex-servicemen on Modi's OROP remark

August 15, 2015 09:44

With no announcement on One Rank One Pension coming from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his nearly 90-minute speech at the Red Fort on the 69th Independence Day, ex-servicemen who have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi say they have been betrayed by the BJP-led government.

Major (retd) Rajendra Singh said, "Aaj humare dil toot gaye hain (our hearts have been broken today). We were expecting announcement about OROP but PM said nothing except lies."

Another ex-servicemen, Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, said: "The prime minister said we accepted the OROP demand, but that happened 17 months back. This is very unfair."

'PM says Team India, Team India. Are we not Team India,' asked an angry army veteran while talking to a media channel and referring to the phrase that the prime minister generously used in his speech.

Prime Minister Modi, during his Red Fort speech, acknowledged that he is yet to reach a resolution on the One Rank One Pension demand of ex-servicemen, but promised that his government had "accepted OROP in principle."

An announcement on the implementation of One Rank One Pension was expected to be the centrepiece of the PM's Independence Day address. But talks between ex-servicemen and the government got stuck at the last minute on what the PM today called 'nitty gritty details'.

"It has been stuck for 20 years... OROP was considered by all governments, but there is no resolution yet. Even I haven't been able to solve it," the PM said at the end of nearly 90-minute address to the nation from the Red Fort.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Gujarat Titans in must-win battle vs in-form KKR

Shubman Gill's return to form will provide a big boost to Gujarat Titans as they square off against table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in their must-win IPL game in Ahmedabad on Monday.

New video claims 70 women received cash for Sandeshkhali protest

In the latest tape that surfaced on Saturday night, Kayal was heard saying that 70 women got Rs 2,000 each for taking part in protests against Sheikh who was arrested and later suspended by the police.

Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh lauded after KKR trounce MI

Varun Chakaravarthy's ability to consistently figure among the wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders drew praise from former Australian tearaway bowler Brett Lee, who said he made life difficult for Mumbai Indians batters in the...

Why didn't chowkidar...: Kharge on Modi's Adani-Ambani charge

Alleging that the BJP would end democracy if it was not voted out, Kharge said it was because of this democracy that a tea-seller's son could become the prime minister of India and he, the son of a labourer, could become the president of...

Another Indian arrested in Canada in Nijjar murder case

Amardeep Singh, 22, a resident of Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford areas of Canada, has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.