SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Rank,_One_Pension
OROP Battle: No 'Fast' Solutions?
PUBLISHED ON: August 25, 2015 | Duration: 51 min, 27 sec
One Rank, One Pension
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One Rank, One Pension (OROP), or same pension, for same rank and for the same length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement,[1]:p 1 was the basis for determining the pension and benefits of Indian Armed Forces till 1973.[2] :paras 10.4 and 11.2
In 1973, the Indian National Congress (INC) government headed by Indira Gandhi, Prime minister, following the Third Central Pay Commission (3 CPC), in an "ex-parte" decision terminated OROP.[2] The termination of OROP caused disquiet in the Armed Forces and has since become a cause of public protests by Armed Forces Veterans.[2] :para 2 and 10.2
An all party ten member Parliamentary Panel, known as the Koshyari Committee after its Chairman, a veteran member of the BJP, examined the issue of grant of OROP to Armed Forces Personnel and submitted its report on 19 December 2011. [2] The Koshyari Committee unanimously found merit in OROP and strongly recommended that, "Government should implement OROP in the defence forces across the board at the earliest and further that for future, the pay, allowances, pension, family pension, etc in respect of the defence personnel should be determined by a separate commission so that their peculiar terms" are properly taken into account.[2] The Koshyari Committee blamed bureaucratic resistance and apathy for the failure to implement OROP. [2] :P 10 para 10.2
In the run up to the Indian general election of 2014, OROP became a politicised issue. [3] It was an integral part of the election manifesto of many political parties including the INC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)[3] Both Sonia Gandhi of INC, and Narendra Modi of BJP, at political rallies made repeated commitments to implement OROP, if elected.[4] [5]
On 15 June 2015, despairing of the Government intent to implement OROP, Ex-servicemen Organizations launched nation wide protests, including hunger strikes. [6][7]
On 14 August, 2015, Independence day eve, Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister of India, authorized Delhi Police, to physically evict the ex-servicemen, wives of servicemen, many in their eighties, from Jantar Mantar, the site of Ex servicemen protests.
A contingent of Delhi Police, including some in camouflage dress, under the orders of BS Bassi, Commissioner of Delhi Police, but apparently without proper supervision, roughly removed the protesters, and damaged their tentage and equipment. "[8] In the face of public outrage at Police high handedness, the order to evict the ex servicemen was rescinded. [9]
Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, called the police action " shocking and obnoxious, ... barbaric, undemocratic and dictatorial." [10]
OROP "implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners."[2] :para 3 and 6 The concept includes "bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. In armed forces, equality in service has two components, namely, rank and length of service. The importance of rank is inherent in armed forces as it has been granted by the President of India and signifies command, control and responsibility in consonance with ethos of service. These ranks are even allowed to be retained by the individual concerned after his/her retirement. Hence, two armed personnel in the same rank and equal length of service should get same pension irrespective of date of retirement and any future enhancement in rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. "[2] :para3
The Koshyari Committee definition of OROP was accepted by the UPA Government, [4] and by Ex Servicemen and Ex servicemen organizations, as the basis for implementation of OROP. It is in sync with the Ex-servicemen definition of OROP, according to which OROP
“implies the grant of equal pension to soldiers of a particular rank, who have rendered the same length of service, irrespective of the date of their retirement.” [1]:p 1
Koshyari Committee definition of OROP, however, did not find favour with the BJP Government. On 30 May 2015, Narendra Modi, the PM, after over a year of making pledges and promises to implement OROP, controversially declared that there are "too many definitions [of OROP] going around", and that his Government is "looking for one on which all stakeholders agree".[11]
The PM 's statement meant that the definition of OROP is not settled; that there are multiple definitions; that BJP does not subscribe to the Koshyari Committee definition; that Koshyari Committee definition is open for revision; and that there is a need for a 'new definition of OROP', a definition that is acceptable to 'all stake holders'.
The other stake holder were neither defined nor identified by the government.
Not unsurprisingly Modi's musings on the need for a new more acceptable OROP definition prompted widespread dismay, disappointment , and outrage amongst Armed Forces pensioners.[12] Modi's statement was dismissed as disingenuous: intended to to delay, dilute, and deny OROP.
Lt General Vijay Oberoi, former Vice Chief of Army Staff, in a caustic commentary on the PM declaration, wrote that BJP Government was
"expected to have a mind of its own and not be overly influenced by highly biased civil officials, who never lose a chance to put down the military. It is sad that the political-bureaucratic nexus is back in power, much to the detriment of the nation."
He noted that the
"conviction among military personnel now is that the touted ‘change’ that was the slogan that brought this government to power was only an election ploy and there is no difference between this and the previous governments."[13]
The estimates of expenditure on account of OROP has undergone many revisions: according to early MOD estimates OROP was expected to cost ₹ 3000 crores,;[2]:para 6, 6.11 this figure has since been questioned and revised. The current estimates vary between ₹ 8,000-9,000 crores.[2] :para 7[14] Finance Ministry estimates for implementation of OROP in accordance with the accepted Koshiyari definition, according to media reports in August 2015, were about ₹ 12000 crores , ie, about ₹ 4000 crores more than estimated earlier. [15]
Ex-servicemen organisations have alledged that defence civilian bureaucracy, led by the Defence Secretary, has opposed grant of OROP. In 2011, Neelam Nath, Secretary of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Poorva Senani Kalyan Vibhag) from 1 June 2009 to 30 September 2011, on instructions from AK Antony, Defence Minister, and Shashi Kant Sharma, Defence Secretary, in her deposition in front of the Parliamentary Panel opposed the grant and implementation of OROP for the Armed Forces.[2]:para 4, and 4.1
The Koshyari Committee however, disagreed with submissions by the Ministry of Defence and found "merit in the demand for One Rank One Pension by Armed Forces Personnel", and urged the Government to implement OROP at the earliest.[2][14]
The Pay Commission recommendations were, however, mostly ignored by the Janata Dal (United Front), and BJP Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee that followed. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Defence Minister (1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998), Indrajit Gupta (Communist Party of India-United Front), Home Minister (29 June 1996 – 19 March 1998), and L K Advani (BJP), Home Minister (19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004) did little to implement these recommendations. The problem festered, and the pension bill ballooned.[16]:p 139, para 2.4.4
The 6 CPC found that Indian Para Military Forces, called Central Armed Police Forces—CAPFs, which has a total strength of about 7,00,000 (in 1996), and defence civilians in Ministry of Defence, which had a strength of 4,00,000, have a combined annual intake of around 35,000 personnel; in comparison Armed Forces personnel (Army, Air Force, and Navy) pensioned off every year (in 1996) was approximately 40,000.[16]:para 2.4.5, p 139 The 6 CPC on the basis of its analysis concluded that "potential to allow lateral shift of nearly all Defence Forces personnel to CPOs and various cadres of defence civilians exists".[16]:para 2.4.6
The 6 CPC recommended that in future posts in the "CPOs/defence civilian organisations" should be filled by lateral transfer of Armed Forces personnel, including Short Service Commissioned Officers, after they complete their term of military service.[16]:para 2.4.6p 140 Improving the post military service prospects of Short Service Commissioned Officers finds a prominent place in the BJP manifesto 2014, a pledge on which the BJP has till to act.[3]
During the tenure of the Manmohan Singh led UPA Government, OROP issue gained salience. This was mainly because Manmohan Singh, UPA Government’s Prime Minister, in the wake of Sixth Central Pay Commission (6 CPC), in 2008, decided to
[a] disregard OROP;[16]:para 5.1.58
[b] grant time bound higher pay grades and ranks to civilian and Police officers, who wears army badges of rank, at fixed intervals, independent of the job requirement, or span of responsibilities;
[c] sanction assured automatic pay promotions, to all officers of All India Services, and the police, under what has been called the "Non-Functional Up-gradation" (NFU), and
[d] terminate "traditional pay parity between the commissioned officers and the AIS", by denying similar pay promotions to armed forces.[16]:para 1.2.8–9[18]
These decisions had the effect of sharply down grading Armed Forces pay grades and ranks across the board, and were widely perceived as attempts by the civil and police bureaucracy to undermine Armed Forces honour, esteem and Izzat,[19] The perceived sense of injustice exacerbated resentment and made OROP an emotional issue.[2] :para 10.4 and 11.2 [20]
Ex-servicemen's organisations and Armed Forces veterans frustrated with UPA Government, in despair, took to the streets. Ex-servicemen protest which began tentatively slowly escalated from meek submission of petitions, to return of service and war medals, dharnas, and hunger strikes.[2] :paras 10.4 and 11.2
On 27 February 2014, Defence Minister A K Antony announced that UPA will implement OROP by 1 April 2014.[4] On the same day, in a meeting in the MOD, to discuss implementation of OROP attended by Antony, Defence Minister, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, RK Mathur, Defence Secretary, Sangita Gairola, Secretary Department of Ex-Servicemen`s Welfare, Arunava Dutt, Secretary Defence Finance, the Adjutant General of the Army, and the Vice Chiefs of the three Service it was noted that,
"OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners," and that it also implies "bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners".[4]
On 15 June, Ex-Servicemen despairing of BJP words and promises, commenced nationwide protests, and hunger strikes.[6][7][24]
Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, approves proposal for implementation of OROP, estimated to cost ₹ 8300 crores. The proposal is forwarded by the MOD, to Ministry of Finance on 17 Mar 2015, where it is still lying.[25]
13 March 2015
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Army Staff, while addressing a rally of several thousand ex-servicemen in Jhajjar, Haryana, said that "The OROP will come out in the same principle as desired. It will be effective from 1 April 2014 and may be approved latest by April 30 this year. However, delay does not matter as arrears will be given."[26]
16 May 2015
Manohar Parrikar, in Goa, said "OROP proposal is in final stage. The defence ministry has approved it and the finance ministry will clear it in a few days, "adding, "it is the first time that a clear proposal has been sent to finance ministry on OROP."[27]
28 May 2015
Wing Commander Suresh Damodar Karnik, 80, former flight commander of No 16 Bomber squadron, also called the Black Cobras, Indian Air Force (IAF), a winner of the Vir Chakra for gallantry for combat action in the eastern and western theatre, refused to meet with Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, and Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, to protest BJP's failure to honour its commitment to implement OROP. The commander, hero of the air war over Chittagong, in Pune, on 28 May 2015, said that he and his colleagues are unable to 'accept the invite' because the present Government is following a policy of NATO or ‘NO ACTION TALK ONLY’. And that the bureaucracy is "pursuing a policy of inching towards making Defence Forces into a Defiant Force"[28]
29 May 2015
Vijai Singh Mankotia, Former Major in 1 Gorkha Rifles, President of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen League, and former minister, in Shimla, said, "It barely takes five minutes for Parliament and assemblies to double the salaries of its members but even after 31 years, since this demand of one-rank one pension was made in 1984, the Defence Minister has said it can take a few more months." He added, "The slogan, Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan, will again resonate as we will join hands with the farmers who are the worst suffers in view of the land Acquisition Bill." Himachal has over 1.5 lakh AF pensioners.[7]
30 May 2015
Narendra Modi, PM, to a question, "Will you deliver on the one-rank-one-pension (OROP) promise to the defence personnel?", replied, "We are committed to OROP, but we are in consultation with defence personnel regarding the definition of OROP. Our government is here for five years, and we cannot do anything without consulting the people concerned. The dialogue is being actively pursued. It is just that there are too many definitions going around yet, and we are looking for one on which all stakeholders agree."[11]
Lt General Vijay Oberoi, former Vice Chief of Army Staff, and widely respected war hero of the 1965 war in which he lost his right leg while serving with Maratha Light Infantry,[29] dismissed Narendra Modi's comments on OROP as disingenuous, especially his comment that there were multiple definitions of OROP. He wrote that BJP Government was "expected to have a mind of its own and not be overly influenced by highly biased civil officials, who never lose a chance to put down the military. It is sad that the political-bureaucratic nexus is back in power, much to the detriment of the nation." He noted that the "conviction among military personnel now is that the touted ‘change’ that was the slogan that brought this government to power was only an election ploy and there is no difference between this and the previous governments."[13]
6 June 2015
Ex-Servicemen delegation led by Major General (Retired) Satbir Singh met Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister. The meeting was arranged on the initiative of General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Army Staff. The meeting was inconclusive, and the two sides agreed to meet again.[30]
11 June 2015
About 5,000 ex-servicemen from Punjab, which has about 6,00,000 Ex-servicemen, according to Brig (Retired) Harwant Singh, state convener of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), are planning to go to Delhi to participate in the protest rally on grant of OROP scheduled to begin 14 June. The participants, which will include around 200 hunger strikers, will be given a "ceremonial farewel" at the war memorial in Jalandhar by war widows. Brig KS Kahlon (retd), President, chapter of the All India Defence Brotherhood, said the protest will also include return by some ex-servicemen of their war medals to the President.[31]
14–15 June 2015
Veteran hold "Maha Sangram Rally" at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and 50 other locations nationwide. 15 June, commence relay hunger strike.[19][6]
22 June 2015
Ex-servicemen announce intent to boycott golden jubilee events to mark the 1965 war with Pakistan, including "felicitation of 1965 War Veterans" to be hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in September.[32] [33] Ex-Servicemen also announce intent to boycott all government functions including at-home by president on Independence day (August 15), and the Ex-Servicemen contingent at the Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2016. Brigadier Harwant Singh, Regiment of Artillery, veteran of the battle of Chhamb-Akhnoor, 1965 war, says "We don't wish to be treated as showpieces, to be rolled out for ceremonies and discarded thereafter."[32][34]
25 June 2015
Mizoram Ex-Service League, which has membership of 6,200 ex-servicemen [and about 25000 dependents], held protest rally, in Aizawl, demanding demanding implementation of OROP.[35]
27 June 2015
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd), Chairman IESM, on the 13th Day of the Relay Hunger Strike, issued a circular, claiming that hunger strike protest have spread to 50 locations, all over the country. Urges Retired Generals to "take the lead as they have done while in service", and requests "at-least eleven General Officers" volunteers to join the relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 1 July 2015.[25]
28 June 2015
500 veterans, demanding implementation of OROP, protest in Chennai, at Kamarajapuram Bus Stop, near Tambaram.[36]
United Front of Ex-servicemen, an ex-service organisation, revealed that ex-service men are reconsidering their protest tactics: new tactics will include continuation of relay hunger strike; protests outside homes of parliamentarians; mobilising electoral support against BJP in state election; and submitting letter and petitions to the President signed by war widows in their blood. In the meanwhile eight farmers organisations have joined the ex-servicemen protest under the banner 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'. A 1965 war veteran from Rajasthan, Krishan Kumar, in Delhi said, "We will stop fighting only when implementation of OROP takes place."[37]
2 July 2015
On 19th day of nationwide hunger protest by ex-servicemen on 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP), Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, with General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Army Chief of Staff, by his side, met a six-member delegation of United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM).[38] Not persuaded by the assurances of the minister that the BJP Government will implement OROP, Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson for UFESMF, said, "The question of calling off the relay hunger strike does not arise unless a date for implementing it is announced and that too without dilution". Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman IESM, responding to questions, said, "We will wait for government's decision on OROP till July 15 and then take our agitation for OROP to next level in which local ex-servicemen organisations all over the country will resort to demonstrations and other peaceful ways of voicing their grievance." Next meeting between the Defence, Minister and the Ex-Servicemen representatives is likely on July 6 or 7.[38]
6 July 2015
Anna Hazare, veteran of 1965 war, and septuagenarian political activist, wrote to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, saying "We have to take care of our soldiers and farmers. Making hollow announcements for their welfare and actually implementing them are different things."[39] In Delhi, a day later, Col (Retd) Anil Kaul, media advisor to United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) told reporters that Anna Hazare will be joining the "relay hunger strike on Jantar Mantar shortly."[40]
7 July 2015
Brig Inder Mohan Singh (Retd), President, Indian Ex-Services League (IESL), Punjab, announced plan to hold protest rally by ex-servicemen on 8 July on a 3-km stretch on the Barnala-Bathinda Highway, from Sub-Area HQ gate to the headquarters X Corps gate. Large number of Junior Commissioned Officers and non-commissioned officers, including many veterans of 1965 war, are expected to participate in the protest. General Officer Commanding, Bathinda, Sub-Area, to the great disappointment of the protesting ex-servicemen, declined request to provide drinking water thinking it was illegal and fearing that "an explanation could be sought for this act." Brig Inder Mohan Singh, disappointed, asked, "Is serving water and that too to veterans not a humanitarian gesture?". Protest placards read "Soldiers become veterans, veterans become beggars. This is Make in India"; "Once a soldier, now a humiliated veteran"; "In no other country veterans protest as in India"; and "Indian soldiers' enemies- some across borders some in Delhi".[41] Bhatinda type protest on OROP, according to Brig (Retired) Inder Mohan Singh, will be also conducted in front of other military stations. There are 14 Army stations and 5 Air Force stations in Punjab.[42]
Justice T S Thakur, Supreme Court Judge, in a hearing on contempt petition by retired Major General S P S Vains, gave Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, six more weeks to implement OROP. Pinky Anand told the judge that "modalities of the implementation of the OROP were being devised" by the Government. The next hearing is on 24 August.[43] The Supreme Court Judgment on 09 Sep 2008 in the case of Union of India and Maj Gen Vains and Others had ruled: (a) No Defence Personnel Senior in rank can get lesser pension than his junior irrespective of the date of retirement (b) Similarly placed Officers of the same rank are to be given the same pension irrespective of the date of retirement.[44]
8 July 2015
Ex-Servicemen protesting against Government failure to implement OROP blocked traffic on Bathinda-Chandigarh highway from 10 am to 1 pm, and sat in dharna in front of the police post in Bhatinda cantonment. Brigadier Inder Mohan Singh (retired), IESL, submitted a petition to a representative of headquarter X Corps (Chetak Corps) South Western Command. Brigadier Inder Mohan Singh indicated that the next protest will be in Amritsar, in which Captain Amarinder Singh former Punjab chief minister and Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, is likely to participate.[45]
The police arrested six ex-servicemen and charged them under Indian Penal Code sections 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). The arrested include: Bhinder Singh, Ramji Das and Sukhdev Singh, from Sangrur; Baldev Singh from Tarn Taran; and Kartar Singh, and Baldev Raj Joshi, from Bathinda. The police also registered cases against over 150 others who have not been named.[45]
9 July 2015
Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, in Lucknow said, "Since issues like this (OROP) involve more than one ministry, hence there cannot be any time-frame for its implementation." This contradicts his statement earlier in Delhi in which while referring to OROP he said, "There will be good news soon."[46]
10 July 2011
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the sitting BJP MP from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, claimed that the Koshyari committee Report on OROP, 2011, prepared by the panel headed by him, was fool-proof. He blamed the United Progressive Alliance government headed by Manmohan Singh, PM, for not implementing OROP. In explanation of the failure by the present BJP Government to implement OROP he said, "It takes time. There are complexities. The party and party organs have said that OROP will be implemented."[47]
11 July 2015
Five retired Lieutenant Generals, four Major Generals and one Air Marshall of the Indian Air Force, joined the protest at jantar mantar, in New Delhi. Many of these general officers belong to the famous June 1971 Indian Military Academy (IMA) course, the "Born to battle" course, that was sent into the 1971 war as Second Lieutenants (2/Lt). One of the 2/Lt from 'born to battle course' who went to war in 1971 was Arun Khetrapal, troop leader, Poona Horse, who was awarded posthoumously the Param Vir Chakra, the nations highest award for valour in the famous tank battle of Basantar. Another 2/Lt from the 'born to battle' course, who joined the protest was Lieutenant General (Retired) Rajinder Singh Sujlana AVSM, VSM, former Colonel Commandant of the Sikh Regiment, and X Corps Commander.[48]
13 July 2015
Punjab based ex-servicemen organisations, including All India Defence Brotherhood (A constituent of the United front of Ex-Servicemen(UFESM)), State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (SEWA), and Ex-Servicemen’s Joint Action Front (Sanjha Morcha) held a protest rally at the Dussera ground Mohali. Ex-servicemen participants in the large rally included Lt Gen SR Ghosh, former GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen RS Sujlana, former Commandant Indian Military Academy and GOC X Corps, and Major Generals Dhillon, DP Singh, IP Singh and Amarjit Singh. The participants unanimously resolved to boycott functions during the visit of Defence Minister on 25 July to inaugurate ‘Mai Bhago Institute’ for training of girls to join the Defence Service. Brig Harwant Singh (Retd), President (UFESM), issued a Press Statement which stated that government inaction will force the ex-servicemen to resort to Direct Action.
17 July 2015
Defence Minister has set up a five-member committee consisting Lt Gen Richard Khare, (Retd), former Military Secretary; Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal,(Retd), former Adjutant General; Major Navdeep Singh, Territorial Army, Chandigarh-based High Court lawyer, and commentator of service conditions; and Major DP Singh, Kargil war wounded. The committee will look into Armed Forces grievances relating to service matters and pensions. The committee is expected submit its findings and recommendations within 60 days. No official announcement on the committee has been made by MOD, or the Defence Minister's office, but media reports suggests that the term of reference of the committee include making recommendations on measures to reduce litigation by Armed Forces members and Ex-servicemen, including the MOD which is a frequent litigator. There are over 10,000 cases by military personnel before the Armed Forces Tribunal, the High Courts and the Supreme Court, most of them against the Ministry of Defence, or prompted by its decisions, on service matters relating to pay fixation, promotions, policy interpretation, pensions and military justice.[49]
19 July 2015
Wing Commander S D Karnik, 80, winner of Vir Chakra for gallantry in 1971 war, who refused to meet with Manohar Parrikar, the Defence Minister, on 28 May, an incident reported widely by the national media, said, in Pune, "I got call from the Central government, asking me to rethink about my stand and saying that declining the honour would be an insult. This shows that the government is concerned about its image but not about the soldiers who fought for the country". Group Captain Ravindra Pathak (Retired) of the Pension Cell of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement says, OROP is not about money, but respect, " this battle is for asserting our rights. In the civil-military balance, which is essential to India’s defence philosophy, political control of the defence forces has actually turned into the bureaucratic control. It is the bureaucracy which has become the biggest obstacle to OROP."[50]
21 July 2015
Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Defence, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, confirmed "principle of OROP for the armed forces has been accepted". In response to a question he denied that OROP is under consideration for paramilitary forces.[51]
UFESM issued notices inviting veterans, veteran organization, and 'citizens of India', to participate in a "Kargil vijay divas run on 26 July". The run to unite veterans on OROP will be flagged off from DSOI, Dhaula Kuan, at 0500 hrs. It will pass through Teen Murti-Akbar Road-Janpath-Rajpath-India Gate-Kharg Singh Marg-Rajeev Chowk. It will end at Jantar Mantar, the site where ex-servicemen are fasting in protest against BJP Government failure to address their grievances. After the run, the runners will assemble at India Gate at 0800 am to pay homage to Kargil war martyrs, "who gave ultimate sacrifice to ensure that you sleep well". The ceremony at India gate will include laying wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti.
24 July 2015
On the 40th Day of the Relay Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and protest in other locations in the country, Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd), Advisor United Front of Ex-Servicemen and Chairman IESM, in written message to veterans said "we have upgraded our Agitation with effect from mid night 23 Jul 2015". The agitation in the new phase, he said, will be "peaceful and within the authorised methods of protests in the Constitution". The aim will be to raise awareness on One Rank One Pension (OROP) and related issues, and 'Create Visibility' in all the Districts in the County". The planned measures include: 10 Kilometre Kargil Vijay Diwas Marathon from DSOI, Dhaula Kuan, to India gate and Jantar Mantar, Delhi; participation of Anna Hazare in the protest on 26 July to "motivate, encourage and showcase solidarity with the ESM on Relay Hunger Strike"; raising public awareness on OROP and related issues using of placards, billboards, leaflets, briefing print and electronic media, and organising marathon runs and rallies across the country. Protest will be also be registered by urging ex-servicemen to boycotted government functions, displaying black flags on houses on "6 feet high pole with OROP written', surrender of BJP party membership by ex-servicemen, sending petitions to "serving Chiefs to jointly and strongly ask the Govt to implement OROP immediately" and "In the event of no action by the serving Chiefs, ESM to appeal to them in the third letter that they consider resigning to accept their accountability and responsibility from the non-implementation of OROP." Other measures may include sending bangles to the PM by "Veer Naaries (brave ladies) of Jhajjar district"; dharana outside the residences of MP, who fail to follow up on OROP in the Parliament; possible Hunger Strike till death; and submission of Memorandum to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, by delegation of United Front of Ex-servicemen at 1 pm on 26 Jul 2015. In the meanwhile Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, continues to attract ex servicemen of all ranks. On 24 July, Maj General Satbir reported that officers from the 1st National Defence Academy (NDA) course, who are in their 80s, visited Jantar Mantar, Delhi, to show solidarity with the relay hunger strikers and express disapproval of government policy.
26 July 2015
To coincide with Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) events to mark the Kargil War, UK based Non Resident Indians (NRIs) held a one-day hunger strike to protest BJP Government failure to implement One rank One pension (OROP), outside the High Commission of India, London. A spokesperson for the protesters said similar protest are planned in other international cities, including in the US and Middle East, and that "NRIs all over the world are concerned and feeling pained about the developments and therefore thought of coming together in support of the soldiers."[52]
31 July 2015
Admiral Ram Das Former Chief of Naval Staff visited Jantar Mantar to meet with and show solidarity with the Ex-servicemen and widows of veterans on hunger strike protesting the BJP Government failure to implement OROP and honour its election pledge. Admiral Ram Das made a donation to the ex-servicemen movement and said that he would write to all former Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Airforce to overcome their inhibitions and visit Jantar mantar to show solidarity with the protesting ex-servicemen. "These are the men you commanded and it is time to come in support of their demand of OROP", he said.[53]
On 14 August, 2015, Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister of India, possibly acting on promptings by the Intelligence Bureau, authorized Delhi Police, which is under the Home Minister, to force-ably evict the ex-servicemen, and families of ex-servicemen, from Jantar Mantar, the site of Ex servicemen protests. Delhi Police personnel, many in camouflage dress, apparently unsupervised by senior officers, without warning, swooped down on the protesters. The protesting Ex servicemen, many in their eighties, were 'pushed around', dragged, [9] and lathi-charged. Their tents were forceably removed, placards and other equipment damaged. [9] Group Captain VK Gandhi (retired), said, " the police action against the veterans, a day before Independence day, "is totally unjustified". " It will be a "black Independence Day as they have tried to curb our independence," he added. 82-year-old Vishambhar said "I was pushed by the cops who even tore my shirt". Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, after the police raid, told the Press Trust of India, "This is shocking and obnoxious. Nothing can be worse. We are the protectors of India's Independence. We are requesting the Police Commissioner to restore our tents since we had permission. The move to remove our tents is barbaric, undemocratic and dictatorial."[54]
The Delhi Police officers justified the heavy handed and arbitrary Police action against the peaceful gathering at Jantar Mantar claiming it acted "following a request by civic agency New Delhi Municipal Council" [10] and because of security risk and threats. "As Delhi is on a high alert ahead of Independence Day so", a senior police officer said. " we are removing the protesters to ensure security."[55]
The ex servicemen were outraged by Delhi police officer’s baseless allegations that they posed a "security threat" or risk. A protesting army veteran, in outrage said, "How can you doubt our integrity? Or consider us a security threat? We served the country in protecting it and now we have become security threat."[56]
The orders to DP was rescinded on 14 August after General VK Singh, Union Minister, spoke with Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister, according to ex-servicemen. Following the clearance by the Home Minister, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home, ordered Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to suspend the police action against the ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar. Kiren Rijiju said, "I have asked the Commissioner of Police not to remove the ex-servicemen from Jantar Mantar and let them continue the protest".[10] [9]
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Minister of Chief, following the Delhi police action against veterans, tweeted, "Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of jantar mantar? Bizarre. They protected us till yest(sic). Now they r security threat for independence day? (sic). " [57]
Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, said OROP implementation was held up because of “technical difficulties”, and that it would be implemented soon, “during the government’s tenure”. [15] Soon after Manohar Parrikar statement, Arun Jetley, the Finance minister, confirmed that “the arithmetical translation” of OROP was posing a problem because of “ several interpretations (of the definition of OROP)”.[15] The difference in the estimated expenditure on implementation of OROP between the defence ministry ( for full implementation of OROP) and finance minister is around Rs 4,000 crore, which is what is also thought to be stalling the implementation of OROP.[15]
15 August 2015 (69th Independence Day)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence day of India, in his address to the nation, from the Red Fort, New Delhi, referred to "One Rank One Pension" as a problem "pending to be resolved". [58] While asserting that the Government has accepted "One Rank One Pension" in principle, he made no commitment on when and in what form it will be implemented. He added ambiguously, "How it (OROP) is implemented in view of its nitty-gritty situation(sic), we are taking the talks forward by engaging with its stakeholders." [58]
17 August 2015
10 former Chiefs of the Armed Forces of India (7 Former chief of Indian Army staff, 2 Chiefs of Air Staff, and 1 Chief of Naval Staff), in a unprecedented joint open letter urged Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, to order an inquiry into the brutal police action by Delhi Police against the peaceful gathering of veterans in Jantar Mantar, on Independence Day eve and to resolve the OROP issue expeditious. The Signatories to the letter included retired Generals Vishwa Nath Sharma, Shankar Roy Choudhary, Sundararajan Padmanabhan, Joginder Jaswant Singh, Deepak Kapoor and Bikram Singh; retired Air Chief Marshals Nirmal Chandra Suri and Shashindra Pal Tyagi, and retired Admiral Madhvendera Singh.[59]
Colonel (Retd) Pushpender Singh (Ex-3 Grenadiers) and Havaldar (Retd) Major Singh (Ex-3 Sikh Light Infantry), began their hunger strike (fast-unto-death) at Jantar Mantar demanding early implementation of OROP. They were joined by Havildar Ashok Chauhan on 18 August. Col (retd) Anil Kaul, media adviser to the United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement said "They are still on fast and their condition is okay". [60][61]
18 August 2015
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of army Staff, late in the night on 17 August, called Major General Satbir Singh, and urged him to meet with Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the PM, on 18 August 2015. Major General Satbir Singh and Lt General Balbir Singh, representaives of the ex servicemen, after initial hesitation met Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the PM, at 1000h on 18 Aug 15, to discuss resolution of the OROP. This was first overture from the government to the Ex servicemen since the protest started in June 2015. Mr Misra urged the Ex Servicemen representatives to end the protest. [60] The ex-servicemen representatives informed Mr Misra that ex servicemen will end their protest after the Government gives an assurance that it will not alter the accepted definition of OROP, implement OROP for all pensioners with effect from 1 April 2014, and ensure that all future enhancements will be automatically passed on to past pensioners. Mr Misra failed to give an assurance on the issues raised by the Ex servicemen. During the meeting Mr Misra was reminded of BJP's commitment, made in its manifesto, to build a martyrs memorial and set up veterans’ commission, to be manned by veterans. Mr Misra seemed to be surprised and not to know about these commitments. In the presence of the representatives he called the defense secretary to brief him on these subject.[60]
In 1973, the Indian National Congress (INC) government headed by Indira Gandhi, Prime minister, following the Third Central Pay Commission (3 CPC), in an "ex-parte" decision terminated OROP.[2] The termination of OROP caused disquiet in the Armed Forces and has since become a cause of public protests by Armed Forces Veterans.[2] :para 2 and 10.2
An all party ten member Parliamentary Panel, known as the Koshyari Committee after its Chairman, a veteran member of the BJP, examined the issue of grant of OROP to Armed Forces Personnel and submitted its report on 19 December 2011. [2] The Koshyari Committee unanimously found merit in OROP and strongly recommended that, "Government should implement OROP in the defence forces across the board at the earliest and further that for future, the pay, allowances, pension, family pension, etc in respect of the defence personnel should be determined by a separate commission so that their peculiar terms" are properly taken into account.[2] The Koshyari Committee blamed bureaucratic resistance and apathy for the failure to implement OROP. [2] :P 10 para 10.2
In the run up to the Indian general election of 2014, OROP became a politicised issue. [3] It was an integral part of the election manifesto of many political parties including the INC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)[3] Both Sonia Gandhi of INC, and Narendra Modi of BJP, at political rallies made repeated commitments to implement OROP, if elected.[4] [5]
On 15 June 2015, despairing of the Government intent to implement OROP, Ex-servicemen Organizations launched nation wide protests, including hunger strikes. [6][7]
On 14 August, 2015, Independence day eve, Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister of India, authorized Delhi Police, to physically evict the ex-servicemen, wives of servicemen, many in their eighties, from Jantar Mantar, the site of Ex servicemen protests.
A contingent of Delhi Police, including some in camouflage dress, under the orders of BS Bassi, Commissioner of Delhi Police, but apparently without proper supervision, roughly removed the protesters, and damaged their tentage and equipment. "[8] In the face of public outrage at Police high handedness, the order to evict the ex servicemen was rescinded. [9]
Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, called the police action " shocking and obnoxious, ... barbaric, undemocratic and dictatorial." [10]
Contents
[hide]Definition of OROP[edit]
Koshiyari Committee[edit]
In 2011, the Petitions Committee of the Rajya Sabha or the Koshyari Committee, after taking into consideration all the evidence and oral deposition by witnesses, defined the concept of OROP as follows:[2]OROP "implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners."[2] :para 3 and 6 The concept includes "bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. In armed forces, equality in service has two components, namely, rank and length of service. The importance of rank is inherent in armed forces as it has been granted by the President of India and signifies command, control and responsibility in consonance with ethos of service. These ranks are even allowed to be retained by the individual concerned after his/her retirement. Hence, two armed personnel in the same rank and equal length of service should get same pension irrespective of date of retirement and any future enhancement in rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. "[2] :para3
The Koshyari Committee definition of OROP was accepted by the UPA Government, [4] and by Ex Servicemen and Ex servicemen organizations, as the basis for implementation of OROP. It is in sync with the Ex-servicemen definition of OROP, according to which OROP
“implies the grant of equal pension to soldiers of a particular rank, who have rendered the same length of service, irrespective of the date of their retirement.” [1]:p 1
BJP Government: Search for New Definition[edit]
Koshyari Committee definition of OROP, however, did not find favour with the BJP Government. On 30 May 2015, Narendra Modi, the PM, after over a year of making pledges and promises to implement OROP, controversially declared that there are "too many definitions [of OROP] going around", and that his Government is "looking for one on which all stakeholders agree".[11]
The PM 's statement meant that the definition of OROP is not settled; that there are multiple definitions; that BJP does not subscribe to the Koshyari Committee definition; that Koshyari Committee definition is open for revision; and that there is a need for a 'new definition of OROP', a definition that is acceptable to 'all stake holders'.
The other stake holder were neither defined nor identified by the government.
Not unsurprisingly Modi's musings on the need for a new more acceptable OROP definition prompted widespread dismay, disappointment , and outrage amongst Armed Forces pensioners.[12] Modi's statement was dismissed as disingenuous: intended to to delay, dilute, and deny OROP.
Lt General Vijay Oberoi, former Vice Chief of Army Staff, in a caustic commentary on the PM declaration, wrote that BJP Government was
"expected to have a mind of its own and not be overly influenced by highly biased civil officials, who never lose a chance to put down the military. It is sad that the political-bureaucratic nexus is back in power, much to the detriment of the nation."
He noted that the
"conviction among military personnel now is that the touted ‘change’ that was the slogan that brought this government to power was only an election ploy and there is no difference between this and the previous governments."[13]
Financial Implications of OROP Implementation[edit]
The estimates of expenditure on account of OROP has undergone many revisions: according to early MOD estimates OROP was expected to cost ₹ 3000 crores,;[2]:para 6, 6.11 this figure has since been questioned and revised. The current estimates vary between ₹ 8,000-9,000 crores.[2] :para 7[14] Finance Ministry estimates for implementation of OROP in accordance with the accepted Koshiyari definition, according to media reports in August 2015, were about ₹ 12000 crores , ie, about ₹ 4000 crores more than estimated earlier. [15]
Afford-ability of OROP[edit]
Close examination of the financial implications of OROP by experts reveals OROP is affordable, and that opposition to it is based on 'specious' grounds.[14] The estimated expenditure on OROP is a small fraction of the military pension budget of ₹ 54,500 crores(2015-16), which includes about 4,00,000 defence civilians. [14] Defence civilians, which includes the entire civilian bureaucracy in the Ministry of Defence, retire at 60, are mostly based permanently in Delhi, and are not be covered by OROP.Ex-servicemen organisations have alledged that defence civilian bureaucracy, led by the Defence Secretary, has opposed grant of OROP. In 2011, Neelam Nath, Secretary of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Poorva Senani Kalyan Vibhag) from 1 June 2009 to 30 September 2011, on instructions from AK Antony, Defence Minister, and Shashi Kant Sharma, Defence Secretary, in her deposition in front of the Parliamentary Panel opposed the grant and implementation of OROP for the Armed Forces.[2]:para 4, and 4.1
The Koshyari Committee however, disagreed with submissions by the Ministry of Defence and found "merit in the demand for One Rank One Pension by Armed Forces Personnel", and urged the Government to implement OROP at the earliest.[2][14]
Measures to reduce Armed Forces Pension bill[edit]
Reducing the ratio of military pensioners to serving military personnel[edit] [ let them die ]
The expenditure on military pensions can be drastically reduced by reducing the ratio of military pensioners to serving military personnel, which is 1.7 to 1.[14] In comparison the ratio for civil pensioners to civil work force is 0.56 to 1.[14] The 6 CPC and Koshiyari Committee, to reduce the military pension bill, urged the Government to absorb Armed Forces personnel after their military engagement in Civil Government organisation including Police Organisation as is the custom in many countries, including in China, and in advanced economies like S Korea, Singapore, Israel, Switzerland, and the United States.[2] The imminently sensible expedient of absorbing e Armed Forces personnel after the end of their military service into suitable government organisations and departments where their unique skills, training, disciple and strengths can be optimally used, [14] despite recommendations of the Parliament and Pay Commission, was ignored by the Government. [2]:para 5 This is mainly on account of want of energy and commitment by the MOD, and obstruction by MHA[2]Fifth Central Pay Commission (5 CPC) Recommendations[edit]
The 5 CPC, in its report submitted in January 1997, recommended increase in posts for pensioned off Armed Forces personnel in Group C and D in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from 10% to 25%. For Short Service Commissioned Officers, on completion of their military service, 5 CPC recommended earmarking 25% officer's post in the CAPFs. These recommendations, the pay Commission thought, would reduce the defence pension bill, save on training and recruitment costs, provide trained manpower to government departments, and provide soldiers a second career after their term of military engagement.[16]:p 139, para 2.4.4The Pay Commission recommendations were, however, mostly ignored by the Janata Dal (United Front), and BJP Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee that followed. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Defence Minister (1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998), Indrajit Gupta (Communist Party of India-United Front), Home Minister (29 June 1996 – 19 March 1998), and L K Advani (BJP), Home Minister (19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004) did little to implement these recommendations. The problem festered, and the pension bill ballooned.[16]:p 139, para 2.4.4
[ SUGGESTION: OUT SOURCE THE DEFENCE OF INDIA TO ""PAKISTAN ""]
VASUNDHRA
Sixth Central Pay Commission (6 CPC) Recommendations[edit]
The 6 CPC found that Indian Para Military Forces, called Central Armed Police Forces—CAPFs, which has a total strength of about 7,00,000 (in 1996), and defence civilians in Ministry of Defence, which had a strength of 4,00,000, have a combined annual intake of around 35,000 personnel; in comparison Armed Forces personnel (Army, Air Force, and Navy) pensioned off every year (in 1996) was approximately 40,000.[16]:para 2.4.5, p 139 The 6 CPC on the basis of its analysis concluded that "potential to allow lateral shift of nearly all Defence Forces personnel to CPOs and various cadres of defence civilians exists".[16]:para 2.4.6
The 6 CPC recommended that in future posts in the "CPOs/defence civilian organisations" should be filled by lateral transfer of Armed Forces personnel, including Short Service Commissioned Officers, after they complete their term of military service.[16]:para 2.4.6p 140 Improving the post military service prospects of Short Service Commissioned Officers finds a prominent place in the BJP manifesto 2014, a pledge on which the BJP has till to act.[3]
Response of the NDA Government[edit]
The recommendation of 6 CPC on lateral movement, however, were mostly ignored by the Manmohan Singh led Indian National Congress-(UPA) Government. A K Antony, the Defence Minister (24 October 2006 – 26 May 2014), at the time did little to follow up on these recommendations. P Chidambaram, Home Minister (30 November 2008 – 31 July 2012), the minister responsible for implementing the recommendations on lateral movement, according to the 6 CPC, resisted implementing these reforms which would result in savings of tens of thousands of crores.[16]:p 141, para 2.4.8 In the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the resistance to these imminently sensible measures was from the civil and police bureaucracy, especially from the heads of Indian Para Military Forces, also called Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).[16]:p 141, para 2.4.8 The seven CAPFs are headed by officers from Indian Police Service. They have direct access to the Minister of Home Affairs, and were elevated by the UPA Government to apex pay grades, a grade higher than that of most Lt Generals, including those in command of Corps of the Indian Army.[16]:page 645–46, para 11.18[17]Savings from lateral Movement of Armed Forces Personnel[edit]
The 6 CPC estimated that the "at the end of 13 years the annual savings" from transfer- absorption of Armed Forces personnel to civil departments, including police, "will be to the tune of ₹ 7,800 crore at constant price index". Lateral transfer- absorption, in the longer term result in savings in the overall pension bill, and would more than off set projected expenditure on OROP.[16]:p 141, para 2.4.7OROP and UPA Government[edit]
[ BASTARDLY BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS ARMED FORCES ]During the tenure of the Manmohan Singh led UPA Government, OROP issue gained salience. This was mainly because Manmohan Singh, UPA Government’s Prime Minister, in the wake of Sixth Central Pay Commission (6 CPC), in 2008, decided to
[a] disregard OROP;[16]:para 5.1.58
[b] grant time bound higher pay grades and ranks to civilian and Police officers, who wears army badges of rank, at fixed intervals, independent of the job requirement, or span of responsibilities;
[c] sanction assured automatic pay promotions, to all officers of All India Services, and the police, under what has been called the "Non-Functional Up-gradation" (NFU), and
[d] terminate "traditional pay parity between the commissioned officers and the AIS", by denying similar pay promotions to armed forces.[16]:para 1.2.8–9[18]
These decisions had the effect of sharply down grading Armed Forces pay grades and ranks across the board, and were widely perceived as attempts by the civil and police bureaucracy to undermine Armed Forces honour, esteem and Izzat,[19] The perceived sense of injustice exacerbated resentment and made OROP an emotional issue.[2] :para 10.4 and 11.2 [20]
Ex-servicemen's organisations and Armed Forces veterans frustrated with UPA Government, in despair, took to the streets. Ex-servicemen protest which began tentatively slowly escalated from meek submission of petitions, to return of service and war medals, dharnas, and hunger strikes.[2] :paras 10.4 and 11.2
On 27 February 2014, Defence Minister A K Antony announced that UPA will implement OROP by 1 April 2014.[4] On the same day, in a meeting in the MOD, to discuss implementation of OROP attended by Antony, Defence Minister, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, RK Mathur, Defence Secretary, Sangita Gairola, Secretary Department of Ex-Servicemen`s Welfare, Arunava Dutt, Secretary Defence Finance, the Adjutant General of the Army, and the Vice Chiefs of the three Service it was noted that,
"OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners," and that it also implies "bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners".[4]
OROP and the BJP[edit]
Narendra Modi, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, at a large election rally, in Rewari, Haryana, with former General VK Singh and Chief of Army Staff standing by his side, in the presence of tens of thousands Ex-Servicemen, declared that he will implement OROP, if elected.[5] After N Modi’s election there were more promises, and public affirmations, by Manohar Parrikar, the Defence Minister, including the Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, on the merits of OROP, and their intent to implement OROP. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Defence Minister, in the Budget Speech on 10 July 2014, said, "We reaffirm our commitment to our brave soldiers. A policy of 'One Rank One Pension' has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities. We propose to set aside a further sum of ₹ 1,000 crore to meet this year’s requirement"[21]:page 25,para 140 Later in the year, Narendra Modi, during a well publicised visit to army formation in Siachen Glacier, on Diwali Day in 2014, told soldiers "It was in my destiny that One rank One pension has been fulfilled".[22] Modi's "Mann Ki Batt", radio address on 31 May 2015, in which he asked Ex-Servicemen to remain patient, as he gets rid of the bureaucratic hassles.[23]Protest by Armed Forces Veteran's[edit]
On 15 June, Ex-Servicemen despairing of BJP words and promises, commenced nationwide protests, and hunger strikes.[6][7][24]
Time Line 2015[edit]
Feb-May[edit]
17 Feb 2015Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, approves proposal for implementation of OROP, estimated to cost ₹ 8300 crores. The proposal is forwarded by the MOD, to Ministry of Finance on 17 Mar 2015, where it is still lying.[25]
13 March 2015
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Army Staff, while addressing a rally of several thousand ex-servicemen in Jhajjar, Haryana, said that "The OROP will come out in the same principle as desired. It will be effective from 1 April 2014 and may be approved latest by April 30 this year. However, delay does not matter as arrears will be given."[26]
16 May 2015
Manohar Parrikar, in Goa, said "OROP proposal is in final stage. The defence ministry has approved it and the finance ministry will clear it in a few days, "adding, "it is the first time that a clear proposal has been sent to finance ministry on OROP."[27]
28 May 2015
Wing Commander Suresh Damodar Karnik, 80, former flight commander of No 16 Bomber squadron, also called the Black Cobras, Indian Air Force (IAF), a winner of the Vir Chakra for gallantry for combat action in the eastern and western theatre, refused to meet with Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, and Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, to protest BJP's failure to honour its commitment to implement OROP. The commander, hero of the air war over Chittagong, in Pune, on 28 May 2015, said that he and his colleagues are unable to 'accept the invite' because the present Government is following a policy of NATO or ‘NO ACTION TALK ONLY’. And that the bureaucracy is "pursuing a policy of inching towards making Defence Forces into a Defiant Force"[28]
29 May 2015
Vijai Singh Mankotia, Former Major in 1 Gorkha Rifles, President of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen League, and former minister, in Shimla, said, "It barely takes five minutes for Parliament and assemblies to double the salaries of its members but even after 31 years, since this demand of one-rank one pension was made in 1984, the Defence Minister has said it can take a few more months." He added, "The slogan, Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan, will again resonate as we will join hands with the farmers who are the worst suffers in view of the land Acquisition Bill." Himachal has over 1.5 lakh AF pensioners.[7]
30 May 2015
Narendra Modi, PM, to a question, "Will you deliver on the one-rank-one-pension (OROP) promise to the defence personnel?", replied, "We are committed to OROP, but we are in consultation with defence personnel regarding the definition of OROP. Our government is here for five years, and we cannot do anything without consulting the people concerned. The dialogue is being actively pursued. It is just that there are too many definitions going around yet, and we are looking for one on which all stakeholders agree."[11]
June[edit]
4 June 2015Lt General Vijay Oberoi, former Vice Chief of Army Staff, and widely respected war hero of the 1965 war in which he lost his right leg while serving with Maratha Light Infantry,[29] dismissed Narendra Modi's comments on OROP as disingenuous, especially his comment that there were multiple definitions of OROP. He wrote that BJP Government was "expected to have a mind of its own and not be overly influenced by highly biased civil officials, who never lose a chance to put down the military. It is sad that the political-bureaucratic nexus is back in power, much to the detriment of the nation." He noted that the "conviction among military personnel now is that the touted ‘change’ that was the slogan that brought this government to power was only an election ploy and there is no difference between this and the previous governments."[13]
6 June 2015
Ex-Servicemen delegation led by Major General (Retired) Satbir Singh met Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister. The meeting was arranged on the initiative of General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Army Staff. The meeting was inconclusive, and the two sides agreed to meet again.[30]
11 June 2015
About 5,000 ex-servicemen from Punjab, which has about 6,00,000 Ex-servicemen, according to Brig (Retired) Harwant Singh, state convener of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), are planning to go to Delhi to participate in the protest rally on grant of OROP scheduled to begin 14 June. The participants, which will include around 200 hunger strikers, will be given a "ceremonial farewel" at the war memorial in Jalandhar by war widows. Brig KS Kahlon (retd), President, chapter of the All India Defence Brotherhood, said the protest will also include return by some ex-servicemen of their war medals to the President.[31]
14–15 June 2015
Veteran hold "Maha Sangram Rally" at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and 50 other locations nationwide. 15 June, commence relay hunger strike.[19][6]
22 June 2015
Ex-servicemen announce intent to boycott golden jubilee events to mark the 1965 war with Pakistan, including "felicitation of 1965 War Veterans" to be hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in September.[32] [33] Ex-Servicemen also announce intent to boycott all government functions including at-home by president on Independence day (August 15), and the Ex-Servicemen contingent at the Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2016. Brigadier Harwant Singh, Regiment of Artillery, veteran of the battle of Chhamb-Akhnoor, 1965 war, says "We don't wish to be treated as showpieces, to be rolled out for ceremonies and discarded thereafter."[32][34]
25 June 2015
Mizoram Ex-Service League, which has membership of 6,200 ex-servicemen [and about 25000 dependents], held protest rally, in Aizawl, demanding demanding implementation of OROP.[35]
27 June 2015
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd), Chairman IESM, on the 13th Day of the Relay Hunger Strike, issued a circular, claiming that hunger strike protest have spread to 50 locations, all over the country. Urges Retired Generals to "take the lead as they have done while in service", and requests "at-least eleven General Officers" volunteers to join the relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 1 July 2015.[25]
28 June 2015
500 veterans, demanding implementation of OROP, protest in Chennai, at Kamarajapuram Bus Stop, near Tambaram.[36]
July[edit]
1 July 2015United Front of Ex-servicemen, an ex-service organisation, revealed that ex-service men are reconsidering their protest tactics: new tactics will include continuation of relay hunger strike; protests outside homes of parliamentarians; mobilising electoral support against BJP in state election; and submitting letter and petitions to the President signed by war widows in their blood. In the meanwhile eight farmers organisations have joined the ex-servicemen protest under the banner 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'. A 1965 war veteran from Rajasthan, Krishan Kumar, in Delhi said, "We will stop fighting only when implementation of OROP takes place."[37]
2 July 2015
On 19th day of nationwide hunger protest by ex-servicemen on 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP), Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, with General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Army Chief of Staff, by his side, met a six-member delegation of United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM).[38] Not persuaded by the assurances of the minister that the BJP Government will implement OROP, Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesperson for UFESMF, said, "The question of calling off the relay hunger strike does not arise unless a date for implementing it is announced and that too without dilution". Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman IESM, responding to questions, said, "We will wait for government's decision on OROP till July 15 and then take our agitation for OROP to next level in which local ex-servicemen organisations all over the country will resort to demonstrations and other peaceful ways of voicing their grievance." Next meeting between the Defence, Minister and the Ex-Servicemen representatives is likely on July 6 or 7.[38]
6 July 2015
Anna Hazare, veteran of 1965 war, and septuagenarian political activist, wrote to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, saying "We have to take care of our soldiers and farmers. Making hollow announcements for their welfare and actually implementing them are different things."[39] In Delhi, a day later, Col (Retd) Anil Kaul, media advisor to United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) told reporters that Anna Hazare will be joining the "relay hunger strike on Jantar Mantar shortly."[40]
7 July 2015
Brig Inder Mohan Singh (Retd), President, Indian Ex-Services League (IESL), Punjab, announced plan to hold protest rally by ex-servicemen on 8 July on a 3-km stretch on the Barnala-Bathinda Highway, from Sub-Area HQ gate to the headquarters X Corps gate. Large number of Junior Commissioned Officers and non-commissioned officers, including many veterans of 1965 war, are expected to participate in the protest. General Officer Commanding, Bathinda, Sub-Area, to the great disappointment of the protesting ex-servicemen, declined request to provide drinking water thinking it was illegal and fearing that "an explanation could be sought for this act." Brig Inder Mohan Singh, disappointed, asked, "Is serving water and that too to veterans not a humanitarian gesture?". Protest placards read "Soldiers become veterans, veterans become beggars. This is Make in India"; "Once a soldier, now a humiliated veteran"; "In no other country veterans protest as in India"; and "Indian soldiers' enemies- some across borders some in Delhi".[41] Bhatinda type protest on OROP, according to Brig (Retired) Inder Mohan Singh, will be also conducted in front of other military stations. There are 14 Army stations and 5 Air Force stations in Punjab.[42]
Justice T S Thakur, Supreme Court Judge, in a hearing on contempt petition by retired Major General S P S Vains, gave Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, six more weeks to implement OROP. Pinky Anand told the judge that "modalities of the implementation of the OROP were being devised" by the Government. The next hearing is on 24 August.[43] The Supreme Court Judgment on 09 Sep 2008 in the case of Union of India and Maj Gen Vains and Others had ruled: (a) No Defence Personnel Senior in rank can get lesser pension than his junior irrespective of the date of retirement (b) Similarly placed Officers of the same rank are to be given the same pension irrespective of the date of retirement.[44]
8 July 2015
Ex-Servicemen protesting against Government failure to implement OROP blocked traffic on Bathinda-Chandigarh highway from 10 am to 1 pm, and sat in dharna in front of the police post in Bhatinda cantonment. Brigadier Inder Mohan Singh (retired), IESL, submitted a petition to a representative of headquarter X Corps (Chetak Corps) South Western Command. Brigadier Inder Mohan Singh indicated that the next protest will be in Amritsar, in which Captain Amarinder Singh former Punjab chief minister and Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, is likely to participate.[45]
The police arrested six ex-servicemen and charged them under Indian Penal Code sections 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). The arrested include: Bhinder Singh, Ramji Das and Sukhdev Singh, from Sangrur; Baldev Singh from Tarn Taran; and Kartar Singh, and Baldev Raj Joshi, from Bathinda. The police also registered cases against over 150 others who have not been named.[45]
9 July 2015
Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, in Lucknow said, "Since issues like this (OROP) involve more than one ministry, hence there cannot be any time-frame for its implementation." This contradicts his statement earlier in Delhi in which while referring to OROP he said, "There will be good news soon."[46]
10 July 2011
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the sitting BJP MP from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, claimed that the Koshyari committee Report on OROP, 2011, prepared by the panel headed by him, was fool-proof. He blamed the United Progressive Alliance government headed by Manmohan Singh, PM, for not implementing OROP. In explanation of the failure by the present BJP Government to implement OROP he said, "It takes time. There are complexities. The party and party organs have said that OROP will be implemented."[47]
11 July 2015
Five retired Lieutenant Generals, four Major Generals and one Air Marshall of the Indian Air Force, joined the protest at jantar mantar, in New Delhi. Many of these general officers belong to the famous June 1971 Indian Military Academy (IMA) course, the "Born to battle" course, that was sent into the 1971 war as Second Lieutenants (2/Lt). One of the 2/Lt from 'born to battle course' who went to war in 1971 was Arun Khetrapal, troop leader, Poona Horse, who was awarded posthoumously the Param Vir Chakra, the nations highest award for valour in the famous tank battle of Basantar. Another 2/Lt from the 'born to battle' course, who joined the protest was Lieutenant General (Retired) Rajinder Singh Sujlana AVSM, VSM, former Colonel Commandant of the Sikh Regiment, and X Corps Commander.[48]
13 July 2015
Punjab based ex-servicemen organisations, including All India Defence Brotherhood (A constituent of the United front of Ex-Servicemen(UFESM)), State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (SEWA), and Ex-Servicemen’s Joint Action Front (Sanjha Morcha) held a protest rally at the Dussera ground Mohali. Ex-servicemen participants in the large rally included Lt Gen SR Ghosh, former GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen RS Sujlana, former Commandant Indian Military Academy and GOC X Corps, and Major Generals Dhillon, DP Singh, IP Singh and Amarjit Singh. The participants unanimously resolved to boycott functions during the visit of Defence Minister on 25 July to inaugurate ‘Mai Bhago Institute’ for training of girls to join the Defence Service. Brig Harwant Singh (Retd), President (UFESM), issued a Press Statement which stated that government inaction will force the ex-servicemen to resort to Direct Action.
17 July 2015
Defence Minister has set up a five-member committee consisting Lt Gen Richard Khare, (Retd), former Military Secretary; Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal,(Retd), former Adjutant General; Major Navdeep Singh, Territorial Army, Chandigarh-based High Court lawyer, and commentator of service conditions; and Major DP Singh, Kargil war wounded. The committee will look into Armed Forces grievances relating to service matters and pensions. The committee is expected submit its findings and recommendations within 60 days. No official announcement on the committee has been made by MOD, or the Defence Minister's office, but media reports suggests that the term of reference of the committee include making recommendations on measures to reduce litigation by Armed Forces members and Ex-servicemen, including the MOD which is a frequent litigator. There are over 10,000 cases by military personnel before the Armed Forces Tribunal, the High Courts and the Supreme Court, most of them against the Ministry of Defence, or prompted by its decisions, on service matters relating to pay fixation, promotions, policy interpretation, pensions and military justice.[49]
19 July 2015
Wing Commander S D Karnik, 80, winner of Vir Chakra for gallantry in 1971 war, who refused to meet with Manohar Parrikar, the Defence Minister, on 28 May, an incident reported widely by the national media, said, in Pune, "I got call from the Central government, asking me to rethink about my stand and saying that declining the honour would be an insult. This shows that the government is concerned about its image but not about the soldiers who fought for the country". Group Captain Ravindra Pathak (Retired) of the Pension Cell of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement says, OROP is not about money, but respect, " this battle is for asserting our rights. In the civil-military balance, which is essential to India’s defence philosophy, political control of the defence forces has actually turned into the bureaucratic control. It is the bureaucracy which has become the biggest obstacle to OROP."[50]
21 July 2015
Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Defence, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, confirmed "principle of OROP for the armed forces has been accepted". In response to a question he denied that OROP is under consideration for paramilitary forces.[51]
UFESM issued notices inviting veterans, veteran organization, and 'citizens of India', to participate in a "Kargil vijay divas run on 26 July". The run to unite veterans on OROP will be flagged off from DSOI, Dhaula Kuan, at 0500 hrs. It will pass through Teen Murti-Akbar Road-Janpath-Rajpath-India Gate-Kharg Singh Marg-Rajeev Chowk. It will end at Jantar Mantar, the site where ex-servicemen are fasting in protest against BJP Government failure to address their grievances. After the run, the runners will assemble at India Gate at 0800 am to pay homage to Kargil war martyrs, "who gave ultimate sacrifice to ensure that you sleep well". The ceremony at India gate will include laying wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti.
24 July 2015
On the 40th Day of the Relay Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and protest in other locations in the country, Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd), Advisor United Front of Ex-Servicemen and Chairman IESM, in written message to veterans said "we have upgraded our Agitation with effect from mid night 23 Jul 2015". The agitation in the new phase, he said, will be "peaceful and within the authorised methods of protests in the Constitution". The aim will be to raise awareness on One Rank One Pension (OROP) and related issues, and 'Create Visibility' in all the Districts in the County". The planned measures include: 10 Kilometre Kargil Vijay Diwas Marathon from DSOI, Dhaula Kuan, to India gate and Jantar Mantar, Delhi; participation of Anna Hazare in the protest on 26 July to "motivate, encourage and showcase solidarity with the ESM on Relay Hunger Strike"; raising public awareness on OROP and related issues using of placards, billboards, leaflets, briefing print and electronic media, and organising marathon runs and rallies across the country. Protest will be also be registered by urging ex-servicemen to boycotted government functions, displaying black flags on houses on "6 feet high pole with OROP written', surrender of BJP party membership by ex-servicemen, sending petitions to "serving Chiefs to jointly and strongly ask the Govt to implement OROP immediately" and "In the event of no action by the serving Chiefs, ESM to appeal to them in the third letter that they consider resigning to accept their accountability and responsibility from the non-implementation of OROP." Other measures may include sending bangles to the PM by "Veer Naaries (brave ladies) of Jhajjar district"; dharana outside the residences of MP, who fail to follow up on OROP in the Parliament; possible Hunger Strike till death; and submission of Memorandum to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, by delegation of United Front of Ex-servicemen at 1 pm on 26 Jul 2015. In the meanwhile Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, continues to attract ex servicemen of all ranks. On 24 July, Maj General Satbir reported that officers from the 1st National Defence Academy (NDA) course, who are in their 80s, visited Jantar Mantar, Delhi, to show solidarity with the relay hunger strikers and express disapproval of government policy.
26 July 2015
To coincide with Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) events to mark the Kargil War, UK based Non Resident Indians (NRIs) held a one-day hunger strike to protest BJP Government failure to implement One rank One pension (OROP), outside the High Commission of India, London. A spokesperson for the protesters said similar protest are planned in other international cities, including in the US and Middle East, and that "NRIs all over the world are concerned and feeling pained about the developments and therefore thought of coming together in support of the soldiers."[52]
31 July 2015
Admiral Ram Das Former Chief of Naval Staff visited Jantar Mantar to meet with and show solidarity with the Ex-servicemen and widows of veterans on hunger strike protesting the BJP Government failure to implement OROP and honour its election pledge. Admiral Ram Das made a donation to the ex-servicemen movement and said that he would write to all former Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Airforce to overcome their inhibitions and visit Jantar mantar to show solidarity with the protesting ex-servicemen. "These are the men you commanded and it is time to come in support of their demand of OROP", he said.[53]
August[edit]
14 August, 2015On 14 August, 2015, Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister of India, possibly acting on promptings by the Intelligence Bureau, authorized Delhi Police, which is under the Home Minister, to force-ably evict the ex-servicemen, and families of ex-servicemen, from Jantar Mantar, the site of Ex servicemen protests. Delhi Police personnel, many in camouflage dress, apparently unsupervised by senior officers, without warning, swooped down on the protesters. The protesting Ex servicemen, many in their eighties, were 'pushed around', dragged, [9] and lathi-charged. Their tents were forceably removed, placards and other equipment damaged. [9] Group Captain VK Gandhi (retired), said, " the police action against the veterans, a day before Independence day, "is totally unjustified". " It will be a "black Independence Day as they have tried to curb our independence," he added. 82-year-old Vishambhar said "I was pushed by the cops who even tore my shirt". Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, after the police raid, told the Press Trust of India, "This is shocking and obnoxious. Nothing can be worse. We are the protectors of India's Independence. We are requesting the Police Commissioner to restore our tents since we had permission. The move to remove our tents is barbaric, undemocratic and dictatorial."[54]
The Delhi Police officers justified the heavy handed and arbitrary Police action against the peaceful gathering at Jantar Mantar claiming it acted "following a request by civic agency New Delhi Municipal Council" [10] and because of security risk and threats. "As Delhi is on a high alert ahead of Independence Day so", a senior police officer said. " we are removing the protesters to ensure security."[55]
The ex servicemen were outraged by Delhi police officer’s baseless allegations that they posed a "security threat" or risk. A protesting army veteran, in outrage said, "How can you doubt our integrity? Or consider us a security threat? We served the country in protecting it and now we have become security threat."[56]
The orders to DP was rescinded on 14 August after General VK Singh, Union Minister, spoke with Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister, according to ex-servicemen. Following the clearance by the Home Minister, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home, ordered Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to suspend the police action against the ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar. Kiren Rijiju said, "I have asked the Commissioner of Police not to remove the ex-servicemen from Jantar Mantar and let them continue the protest".[10] [9]
Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Minister of Chief, following the Delhi police action against veterans, tweeted, "Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of jantar mantar? Bizarre. They protected us till yest(sic). Now they r security threat for independence day? (sic). " [57]
Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, said OROP implementation was held up because of “technical difficulties”, and that it would be implemented soon, “during the government’s tenure”. [15] Soon after Manohar Parrikar statement, Arun Jetley, the Finance minister, confirmed that “the arithmetical translation” of OROP was posing a problem because of “ several interpretations (of the definition of OROP)”.[15] The difference in the estimated expenditure on implementation of OROP between the defence ministry ( for full implementation of OROP) and finance minister is around Rs 4,000 crore, which is what is also thought to be stalling the implementation of OROP.[15]
15 August 2015 (69th Independence Day)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence day of India, in his address to the nation, from the Red Fort, New Delhi, referred to "One Rank One Pension" as a problem "pending to be resolved". [58] While asserting that the Government has accepted "One Rank One Pension" in principle, he made no commitment on when and in what form it will be implemented. He added ambiguously, "How it (OROP) is implemented in view of its nitty-gritty situation(sic), we are taking the talks forward by engaging with its stakeholders." [58]
17 August 2015
10 former Chiefs of the Armed Forces of India (7 Former chief of Indian Army staff, 2 Chiefs of Air Staff, and 1 Chief of Naval Staff), in a unprecedented joint open letter urged Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, to order an inquiry into the brutal police action by Delhi Police against the peaceful gathering of veterans in Jantar Mantar, on Independence Day eve and to resolve the OROP issue expeditious. The Signatories to the letter included retired Generals Vishwa Nath Sharma, Shankar Roy Choudhary, Sundararajan Padmanabhan, Joginder Jaswant Singh, Deepak Kapoor and Bikram Singh; retired Air Chief Marshals Nirmal Chandra Suri and Shashindra Pal Tyagi, and retired Admiral Madhvendera Singh.[59]
Colonel (Retd) Pushpender Singh (Ex-3 Grenadiers) and Havaldar (Retd) Major Singh (Ex-3 Sikh Light Infantry), began their hunger strike (fast-unto-death) at Jantar Mantar demanding early implementation of OROP. They were joined by Havildar Ashok Chauhan on 18 August. Col (retd) Anil Kaul, media adviser to the United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement said "They are still on fast and their condition is okay". [60][61]
18 August 2015
General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of army Staff, late in the night on 17 August, called Major General Satbir Singh, and urged him to meet with Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the PM, on 18 August 2015. Major General Satbir Singh and Lt General Balbir Singh, representaives of the ex servicemen, after initial hesitation met Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the PM, at 1000h on 18 Aug 15, to discuss resolution of the OROP. This was first overture from the government to the Ex servicemen since the protest started in June 2015. Mr Misra urged the Ex Servicemen representatives to end the protest. [60] The ex-servicemen representatives informed Mr Misra that ex servicemen will end their protest after the Government gives an assurance that it will not alter the accepted definition of OROP, implement OROP for all pensioners with effect from 1 April 2014, and ensure that all future enhancements will be automatically passed on to past pensioners. Mr Misra failed to give an assurance on the issues raised by the Ex servicemen. During the meeting Mr Misra was reminded of BJP's commitment, made in its manifesto, to build a martyrs memorial and set up veterans’ commission, to be manned by veterans. Mr Misra seemed to be surprised and not to know about these commitments. In the presence of the representatives he called the defense secretary to brief him on these subject.[60]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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