Ex-servicemen to hold rally today at Jantar Mantar to seek changes in OROP scheme

New Delhi: Ex-servicemen will hold a rally on Saturday at Jantar Mantar to press for changes in one rank one pension scheme (OROP).

Army veterans had said yesterday that there were some issues in the scheme that remained unresolved.

They had also said that the OROP protest would continue.

Addressing media persons at Jantar Mantar here, Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd) had said that there were seven issues which remained unresolved.

He also said the agitation would be immediately pulled of if a written assurance was given by the government.

"There are seven issues which have not been addressed as per the original definition of OROP," Maj Gen Singh had said, as per IANS.

"If they listen to us, and tell us that the anomalies will be removed, we will withdraw the agitation," he had added.

"The government has created avoidable confusion by including VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) in their announcement as it does not exist in the defence forces. However, those who have taken pre-mature retirement must come under OROP," he had further states.

Meanwhile, a section of the veterans are against holding the rally and have reportedly disassociated with the umbrella group United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM).

Lt Gen Balbir Singh, who was one of the key negotiators along with Maj Gen Singh, is one of those who is said to have withdrawn.

Yesterday, the 89 day of the agitation, 38 ex-servicemen and women sat on relay hunger strike.

On the other hand, the veterans have also objected to the government taking calendar year 2013 instead 2014 for fixing the base.

The veterans are also opposed to formation of one-man judicial commission, and have said that the deadline for the commission to come out with a report should be one month instead of the six as proposed by the government.

The protesting veterans have also demanded that the OROP should be independent of the Central Pay Commission and the concept should be in perpetuity.

(With IANS inputs)