NEW DELHI: Expressing displeasure on the police action against ex-servicemen on the eve of Independence day, who were protesting for demanding One Rank One Pension scheme, ten former Servicemen of the three Defence Services have written to the Prime Minister for seeking an action against the erring police officers.
“We are deeply perturbed and distressed by the highhanded treatment of our veterans on 14 August at Jantar Mantar. These veterans have been on a peaceful demonstration at this venue and have been trying to make the Government hear their voice since 12 June. We unequivocally condemn the action by the Police and urge the Government to investigate and take immediate action,” Service chiefs from three services including, seven from army i.e General VN Sharma, General Shankar Roy Choudhary, General S. Padmanabhan, Gen NC Vij, Gen JJ Singh, Gen Deepak Kapoor, Gen Bikram Singh, and Admiral Madhvendra Singh from Navy and Air chief marshal NC Suri and Air chief Marshal SP Tyagi from IAF.
“This indiscretion on the part of the police has seriously impacted the pride and morale of all ranks of the three Services and the Veterans. These veterans are the same soldiers, who have displayed unflinching loyalty towards the Constitution and the Nation during their service and still remain motivated to die for a noble cause. Unfortunately their dignity and pride today stand scarred and is a cause for serious concern,” the letter says, addressed to the PM Modi.
They also regret that Prime Minister did not announce the implementation of OROP during his Independence day.
“There is only one definition of “One Rank One Pension” and that has been accepted both by the current and previous Parliaments and also by the Raksha Mantri in the presence of the Veterans. This is “uniform pension to be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement”. Simultaneously, ‘Annual Review System’ would be required to be put in place for equalization of pension of the past and current retirees,” Service Chiefs write.
They said that defence minister had already consulted with service headquarters and reprsentatives of ex-servicemen community and MoD official approved a Rs. Rs 8300 Cr Model in Feb 2014 based on formula of maximum pension data for each rank and Service as on Financial Year 2014.
“The often quoted technical difficulties without ever being specified and discussed are thus bewildering. This is simple arithmetic based on the Standard Pension Tables of the Govt. These delays are construed to be only with a view to bring in changes in the parameters and dilute the entitlements, which will be grossly unjust and unacceptable,” former chief letter says.