New Delhi: Accusing Narendra Modi-led NDA goverment of not fulfilling any promises made to the defence personnel, Social activist Anna Hazare without taking Modi’s name said that he (Modi), had promised OROP before the polls, but he is yet to take a decision on the issue including implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme even after protests across the country.
Assuring the defence personnel that he will do whatever was possible in getting their due, Hazare said, “When we will come to power we will implement OROP…they (Modi and the BJP) had said this in Rohtak,” while referring to the Prime Minister’s pre-election rally.
“Shaheed Diwas (Kargil Vijay Diwas) is not a day to make speeches. We will do whatever (we can) for (implementation) of One Rank One Pension… I will go to many states across the country and do rallies,” he said while addressing the ex-defence personnel at Jantar Mantar here where they have been holding protests over the non-implementation of OROP.
Hazare, a former soldier himself, today joined the protests by ex-servicemen over delay in implementation of OROP and said that he would travel across the nation to “awaken” people on the issue and it will culminate into a protest at the Ramlila Maidan here on October 2.
Terming Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as a “good” man, he said that even he has not been able to fulfil the assurance.
“Our Defence Minister is good and I know him well. In February, he had taken a decision that Rs 500 crore will be taken from the Finance Ministry and if it was less then he will ask for more. Still the assurance is not being fulfilled. This is not happening. Still two months are left. We will go across the country and awaken people,” he said, adding that his only request is please don’t resort to violence. Common man should not be affected because of this.
Hazare also cautioned the government to fulfil all the promises it had made before the polls or else every passing day will be a “loss”.
