OROP protest stays, meeting with Parrikar likely

Protests over delay in implementation of the promised `One Rank, One Pension` scheme continued for the 21st day in the national capital with a relay hunger-strike by 75 ex-servicemen on Sunday.

New Delhi: Protests over delay in implementation of the promised `One Rank, One Pension` scheme continued for the 21st day in the national capital with a relay hunger-strike by 75 ex-servicemen on Sunday.

"A meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected in the coming week, and the protesting ex-servicemen hope to reach a breakthrough," Group Captain V.K. Gandhi (retd), Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement general secretary said.

"We are hoping to meet the minister this week, whenever he gives us time... We are hopeful of a positive outcome from the meeting," the retired Indian Air Force officer told IANS.

Parrikar had earlier this week called the protesting ex-servicemen and said the `One Rank One Pension` (OROP) file had come back from the union finance ministry.

The minister had said complications around implementation of the OROP have been sorted out now. However, no date for the implementation of the scheme was given.

The veterans started their protest on June 14, and a relay hunger-strike began from June 15.

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