Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: The burning of medals yesterday by a few veterans at Jantar Mantar is highly condemnable, said Brig.(retd) Anil Gupta, convener of Ex-Servicemen Cell of BJP, while addressing the media.
Medals are awarded in recognition of the valour, distinguished service and difficult tenures like Siachen, by the grateful nation and carry emotional value for the soldiers. By burning these medals, they have not only hurt the majority of veterans but also insulted the sentiments of the entire nation. A veteran wears his medals with pride even after retirement and treats them as a prized possession; hence, any disrespect to them is unacceptable.
On the issue of OROP, Brig. Gupta said that with the issue of Government notification on the subject the issue is settled and there is no need to protest by a section of the veterans. Rather than thanking the Modi Government for doing in one year which others could not do in 40 years, they have decided to adopt the path of confrontation.
Clarifying the various issues of contention as raised by the agitating veterans he said that since annual increments are given on 1st of July each year, whether it is calendar year or Financial Year (FY) is immaterial. Regarding averaging of minimum and maximum pay with the same length of service, he said there will be no losers but only beneficiaries.
Those who due to less service in same rank are drawing less pension will be benefitted and the pension of those drawing higher will be protected and hence it will be a win-win situation for all. The maximum benefit of this will accrue to Personnel below officer rank. Similarly, equalization after five years is beneficial to the veterans since earlier it was being done after 10 years. Yearly equalization does not matter because once the fitment tables are issued they will be effective for five years. Giving an example he said that a Subedar with 25 years of service got a pension of say Rs. X in 2013 will not be affected by a serving Subedar getting yearly increments thereafter because with each additional year served his length of service will increase while OROP is for same length of service.
Brig Gupta appealed to the Government to issue fitment tables immediately and also appoint the Judicial Commission. He also wanted the Government to open a dialogue with the agitating veterans.
Col (retd) Uttam Singh, Vice President BJP, Sub (retd) Maj. Jasrotia Secretary Ex Servicemen Cell and State Spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan were also present in the press conference.
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