One Rank One Pension: Ex-servicemen to wait till August 26

New Delhi, Aug 19: Ex-servicemen agitating on the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue have decided to wait till August 26 before scaling up their protest, after government made fresh attempts to reach out to the veterans.

“We have urged retired Col. Pushpinder Singh, Havildar Major Singh and Havildar Ashok Chauhan to give up the fast unto death till August 26,” a statement said on Wednesday.

“The United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) management again requested the three ex-servicemen (ESM) on fast unto death to discontinue till August 26. They were even requested that if the government response on August 26 would not be satisfactory, the UFESM advisory council would not stop them to resume their fast unto death,” the statement said.

“But they were determined and did not agree to UFESM advisory council’s request. All three ESMs are observing fast unto death on their own will and have not been pressurised or influenced in any way by any members present at the Jantar Mantar,” it added.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office intervened with Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra reaching out to the protesting veterans. Delhi Police also apologised for the crackdown on protesters ahead of the Independence Day.

According to statement, the medical parameters of the three fasting veterans were stable.  (IANS)