Ex-servicemen to hold 'Ekta Rally' to demand govt action on issues with OROP

New Delhi: The ex-servicemen protesting over issues pertaining to the announced One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme have organised 'Ekta Rally' on 12 September, Saturday, in New Delhi, to press for government action.A press release by the United Front of Ex-servicemen (UFESM) on Thursday called for all ex-servicemen to participate in "large numbers" in the rally at Jantar Mantar, slated to take place from 10 am to 2 pm.[caption id="attachment_2423158" align="alignleft" width="380"]

A protest seeking OROP. PTI[/caption]The press release lists unresolved issues with the OROP as announced by the government."As per government press release pension will be fixed as per mean of Max and Min pension for the year. This will violate the basic definition of OROP and hence not acceptble," the press release says.The UFESM also demands a five member committee, with three members from the ex-servicemen community, to adjudicate the issue of equalisation of pension, instead of the government's proposal to form a single-judge panel.The front also seeks clarification on the VRS issue and wants "all personnel who have taken premature pension and are drawing pension" to be eligible for OROP.The UFESM has sought a government letter on OROP to be issued by 30 September, 2015, with full clarification on all issues raised by the protesting ex-servicemen.The press release from UFESM, however, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA governmet for approving OROP and said the 'fast unto death' had been withdrawn in the honour of the same.