Ex-servicemen protest in Mohali against non-implementation of OROP

CHANDIGARH: A large number of ex-servicemen protested in Mohali demanding implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) on Friday.
Several ex-servicemen from Mohali, Chandigarh and Panchkula and widows of soldiers from adjoining villages of Mohali district gathered outside Army's CSD canteen at Phase VII for the protest.
The protest was organized by the Ex-servicemen Grievance Cell, Punjab.While giving details, Lt Col S S Sohi (retd), president of the cell, said the purpose was to raise their voice against delay in implementation of OROP.
He also added that a delegation of various retired defence personnel would also be going to Delhi on Saturday morning, where a large congregation of ex-servicemen welfare organizations from across the country has been called in support of OROP and against the delay in its implementation by the Centre.
Feeling dejected by the "backtracking" of the Centre and "false promises" of the defence minister, all the ex-servicemen organizations of India have joined hands and would be holding a meeting on Saturday at Delhi. The meeting would be organized at 11 am at Dhaula Kuan in which representatives of ex-servicemen from across the country would decide further plan of action.
They are unhappy over the non-implementation of OROP by the Centre even after the completion of one year of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
Modi had pledged to implement OROP in his first election rally held in Rewari in September 2013 after being declared as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP. According to the ex-servicemen organizations, the BJP-led NDA government, which had promised to implement OROP immediately on coming into power, is dragging its feet.