Amid the ongoing deadlock over the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme and government’s failure to give a specific date for its implementation, veterans on Friday boycotted the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war against Pakistan.
New Delhi is hosting first of the many functions to mark the golden jubilee.
The deadlock in talks over OROP continued on Thursday with the group of ex-servicemen negotiating with the Centre a new pension package walking out of a meeting.
There were hopes that the stalemate could be resolved at meeting and the announcement on OROP made today on the 50th anniversary of the Indo-Pak 1965 war.
Ex-servicemen have refused to accept the government’s proposal to review pension for veterans after every five years.
“It is an insult to veterans to celebrate 50th anniversary of the 1965 war at India Gate as the soldiers who have fought it are languishing here demanding their rights,” said Colonel Thapar.
Wing Commander (retired) Vinod Nebb, who was a young 22-year-old fighter pilot during the 1965 war, called it “a sad day in my life” as he was at Jantar Mantar protesting for OROP and not at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay homage to his gallant fellow soldiers who laid their lives for the country.
“The system has compelled me to come here. I have come here to show solidarity with war veterans, war widows and jawans,” said the 73-year-old proud former Indian Air Force officer.
Wing Commander (retired) Nebb, commissioned into the IAF No, 27 Squadron (Flaming Arrows) in 1963, was just two years into the service when the war with Pakistan broke out. The fighter pilot flew a Hunter jet and shot down one Pakistani F-86 Sabre in the 1965 war and was awarded the Vir Chakra.
