OROP deadlock to end? Manohar Parrikar hints at govt's approval of scheme

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday hinted at the possibility of the government approving the One Rank-One Pension scheme for retired armed forces personnel. In principal the Prime Minister had approved it on the fifteenth of the month, Parrikar said.

He also asked the protesting ex-servicemen to give the government some time to finalise it. "The Prime Minister Office is personally taking interest in this issue. It will be sorted out soon," he added. 

However, the army veterans have said that the protest will gain strength but added that they will wait for a few days for PM Modi to call them for a meeting.

Our protest will continue & gain momentum,but we'll wait 1-2 days for PM to call us for a meet: Satbir Singh pic.twitter.com/CWXHhQT1X5

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2015

I request Defence minister with folded hands,please don't delay this further-Wing Commander(Retd) Vinod Neb #OROP pic.twitter.com/NiJPDGVNxC

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 28, 2015

Deadlock persisted over the 'One Rank One Pension' row as the protesting ex-servicemen had a few days ago rejected government's formula for its implementation saying an attempt was being made to "short change" them. "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 April 1, 2015 as against the agreed date of April 1, 2014. "We have rejected the proposal. Escalation of our protest in expected. The complicated arithmetic will mean reduced payout," he said. 

With PTI inputs