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‘It will send a message to country that assurances have not been fulfilled’




Thousands of gallantry medals may be returned to 
the government soon, if veterans who have been 
protesting the delay in the implementation of the 
one rank one pension policy have their way.

Ex-servicemen, who have been on a relay hunger 
strike since June at Jantar Mantar, will be asking 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet them and 
take back 10,000 medals as a mark of protest. 

Though the government announced on September 
5 that OROP would be implemented, the protesting 
veterans said there were seven major flaws in the 
plan.

Major General (retd.) Satbir Singh, who has been 
leading the agitation as an adviser to the United 
Front of Ex-Servicemen, said on Tuesday that they 
would be writing to the Prime Minister seeking 
appointment.


“Over the past year, 10,000 medals have been sent 
or given to us by ex-servicemen across India. We 
will be asking the Prime Minister for time so that 
we can return the medals to him. The apathy of the 
government has left us with no other choice,” said 
Maj. Gen. Singh.

He said that in the past disgruntled ex-soldiers had 
returned their medals to the President, the 
commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

“But, this time we want to give the medals to the 
Prime Minister, as it was he who promised during 
the election campaign that we would get OROP. 

Returning the medals will send a message to the 
entire country that assurances given have not been 
fulfilled,” said Maj. Gen. Singh.


The veterans said the government had not issued 
the notification to implement OROP, which it said 
would do so within a month of the announcement 
on September 5.


Fast by Women

Meanwhile, Tuesday marked a first in the 114 days 
of the relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar with 
only women family members of the veterans 
observing fast.

Sudesh Gohat, wife of Major (retd.) Ajmer Singh, 
said it was the plight of widows of veterans that 
made her join the agitation.

“Talking to widows of soldiers, who have to survive 
on Rs. 3,500 per month as pension, moved me. 
Then, my husband told me that crying would not 
help and we must fight for our rights. After that, I 
have decided to join the protest till the Prime 
Minister gives us true OROP,” said Ms. Gohat.

Every Tuesday will now be a “ladies day” at Jantar 
Mantar with women family members of veterans 
observing a hunger strike, said Maj. Gen. Singh.