OROP: After Manohar Parrikar's assurance, veterans to give more time to government before escalation

New Delhi: Disappointed with the Independence Day speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he did not make a firm commitment on the ‘One Rank One Pension’ issue, veterans had been planning an intensification of protests throughout the nation, but a massive reach out by the government has slowed things down for the moment.

While several veterans at Jantar Mantar announced fast unto death and rallies were being planned across cities, many top government functionaries reached out to the united ex-servicemen front, re- questing them not to escalate matters for a few days as final efforts were on to resolve the issue.

On Saturday, hours after PM Modi’s speech, defence minister Manohar Parrikar reached out to the veteran’s organisation, requesting them for ‘4-5 days’ for a final resolution. This reach-out was followed by a similar meeting and request by minister of state for foreign affairs Gen VK Singh (retd), who also requested that the matter should not be escalated as the issue was being resolved.

On Sunday, Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh also spoke to the veterans, requesting them to call off the protest. Sources said that while veterans have promised not to escalate matters for the next week due to multiple government assurances, they are in no mood to back off. The relay hunger strike in the Capital is continuing and a presence will be maintained at Jantar Mantar, sources said.