NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today came out in support of OROP-demanding ex-servicemen, and criticised their eviction ahead of Independence Day at Jantar Mantar and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce acceptance of their demands.
A group of ex-servicemen demanding 'One Rank One Pension' have been protesting for the past two months.
Delhi Police and NDMC officials today evicted various protesting groups from Jantar Mantar, including the ex-servicemen demanding implementation of OROP.
However, the ex-servicemen refused to leave and alleged that the police manhandled those protesting silently.
"Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of Jantar Mantar? Bizarre. They protected us till yest. Now they r security threat for indep day? (sic)," Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.
The Delhi Chief Minister urged Modi to accept their demand and announce it from Red Fort tomorrow.
"I wud urge Hon'ble PM to announce acceptance of the demand of OROP of our ex servicemen from Red Fort tomo, (sic)", Kejriwal also tweeted.
Within few hours of resisting eviction, ex-servicemen announced that Delhi Police have confirmed that they will not be removed and can continue their peaceful agitation at Jantar Mantar.
The ex-servicemen demanded that the government fulfill the promises made with regard to implementation of the long-pending OROP scheme.
Around 22 lakh ex-servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be immediate beneficiaries of the OROP scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.