OROP: Out of ICU, Fasting Veteran Returns to Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: Not in the best of health yet undeterred, Colonel (retd) Pushpendra Singh today resumed his fast-unto-death demanding prompt implementation of One Rank, One Pension scheme at Jantar Mantar here hours after he was discharged from an army hospital.

Singh, one of the ex-servicemen fasting in demand of the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme, was hospitalised Monday last — the ninth day of his fast after his medicalreport showed increased ketone levels.

Singh was admitted to the ICU of Army Hospital Research and Referral, from where he was discharged today. Hours later, he returned to the protest site to join his fellow ex-servicemen, whose agitation entered the 80th day today.

Amid reports that the OROP issue could come up for discussion at the three-day brainstorming meet of top RSS and BJP leaders, Singh urged the Sangh to put pressure on the Modi government to resolve to the vexed issue.

"He was not even taking medicines orally. After the drip was over, he asked doctors to discharge him and is back at Jantar Mantar," Singh's wife Anita Dahiya said. Meanwhile, former Uttarkhand chief minister and BJP MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari today met the protesting retired army personnel.

"He met Gen (retd) Satbir Singh and assured that the government is working to find a solution soon. He, however, did not say as to when the government will agree to our demands," said Col (retd) R S Jamwal.

Also, Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, an advocate of the OROP scheme, proposed them to "accept the revision of pension every three years".