NEW DELHI: Keeping doors open for negotiations, protesting ex-servicemen over the “One Rank One Pension’ scheme, former Army Chief and Union Minister General (Retd) V K Singh has been appointed as a ‘ mediator’ between the government and the veterans.
But, agitators on Wednesday decided to hold an ‘Aakrosh’ rally at Jantar Mantar on December 13 as a mark of protest.
The protesting veterans claimed that they met with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday night and decided to appoint Gen (Retd) V K Singh as a mediator.
Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, has been involved in back-channel negotiations on the contentious issue earlier also. “The satyagrah has been confronted with two major challenges. These are in the form of, firstly the government notification of November 8 on OROP, and secondly the effect of the recommendations of the 7CPC (Central Pay Commission) if accepted in to by the government,” the protesting veterans said in a statement.
They also say that, “Our focus and aim remains on the implementation of the OROP award without dilution and to that extent we will continue to engage with the Government of India for justice.”