Col Pushpinder and Havildar Major Singh on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar demanding OROP.
Ten former service chiefs
have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on One Rank One Pension or OROP, even as two retired Armymen began an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in protest against the delay in implementing the scheme for pension parity.
Col Pushpinder Singh (retd) of the 3 Grenadiers and Havilder Major Singh (retd) of 3 Sikh Light Infantry have spurned all requests to reconsider their "fast-unto-death."
In an open letter to the PM, meanwhile, seven former Army chiefs, two former Air Force chiefs and a former Naval chief have said they are, "deeply perturbed and distressed" by the "highhanded police action" on protesting veterans at Jantar Mantar on the eve of Independence Day, during a drive to clear the area of protesters.
"We unequivocally condemn the action by the Police and urge the Government to investigate and take immediate action," the former chiefs said.
"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," the chiefs wrote, adding, "Their dignity and pride today stand scarred and is a cause for serious concern."
They also regretted that the Prime Minister had not announced the implementation of OROP in his address to the nation on Independence Day.
At Jantar Mantar, the two veterans on hunger strike said they were forced to escalate matters after PM Modi failed to announce OROP in his speech. "It was a demoralising factor for us," said Col Singh.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday asked the veterans for four to five days more for a final resolution of OROP, said to be stuck on when the scheme should be implemented from. The ex-serviceman now want a meeting with PM Modi.
For two decades, ex-servicemen have demanded the same pension as people of the same rank retiring now. At present, an officer who retired many years ago is paid far less than someone of junior rank retiring now.