One Rank One Pension – V K Singh ‘Appointed’ as Mediator

One Rank One Pension – V K Singh ‘Appointed’ as Mediator – The defence minister then informed V K Singh about it, who accepted the responsibility.

Union minister and former Army chief, General (Retd) V K Singh is mediating between the protesting ex-servicemen and the defence ministry to resolve the differences on One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue. Singh’s name as the mediator was agreed upon at a meeting between the veterans and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar last Tuesday. While the veterans have had telephonic conversations with Singh since, they hope to meet him in a couple of days.

According to Wing Commander (retd) C K Sharma, treasurer of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, who was present at the meeting at South Block along with Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, V K Singh’s name was proposed by Parrikar and accepted by the veterans.

The defence minister then informed V K Singh about it, who accepted the responsibility.

“Our position is very clear. We want the OROP to be recommended as per the draft letter approved by Parrikar himself in February. That is what we have told V K Singh too. It is for the government to respond now,” said Sharma.

The defence ministry and V K Singh did not respond to messages and email about the subject.

Veteran advocate Ram Jethmalani Monday claimed that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was pressured while announcing One Rank One Pension. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “not understood” OROP despite having made it an election promise, Jethmalani said during a press conference called by protesting ex-servicemen.

Source: The Indian Express