Veterans’ OROP protest misguided, says Parrikar

Panaji/New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said ex-servicemen protesting over One Rank One Pension (OROP) notification were misguided and that they should approach a judicial commission being set up as part of the scheme to discuss the issue further. 

"My major job was to get OROP notification issued which I have done. They must approach the commission to discuss further problem," Parrikar said at the commissioning ceremony of ICGS Samarth at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Panaji.

The ex-servicemen have decided to return their medals in protest against OROP notification Tuesday onwards.

"It’s their democratic right (to protest), but I think they are misguided. If at all they have grievance, they (ex-servicemen) should put it before the judicial commission we are appointing," he added.

The government has decided to appoint a judicial committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months.