New Delhi, Sept.7 : Congress leader P.C. Chacko on Monday said that the announcement of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme by the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre smacked of political opportunism, given that elections in Bihar are just a couple of months away.
“Whatever Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar has said on the OROP scheme would not be taken in a good gesture by ex-servicemen,” Chacko said.
Speaking to ANI, Chacko said, “The government did not say anything about the five demands it had committed to ex-servicemen, nor has it said anything about giving a written assurance about pension eligibility of ex-servicemen retiring prematurely.”
“Manohar Parrikar should come out with a written statement. If they have the sincerity, they should give a date, when all demands would be met,” he added.
The ex-servicemen who are protesting for the implementation of the OROP scheme, only called off their hunger strike on Sunday after receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reassurance on OROP.
“We are happy to announce that we have called off the hunger strike. The government should agree to VRS and the other four points. It’s legal and justified. Agitation will continue,” said the chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) Major General (Retired) Satbir Singh. (ANI)