The veteran movement on OROP marches on (English Version) Rakshak News 23 May 18
A massive armed forces veteran rally was held on 20th May at Jantar Mantar. Over five thousand veterans from the three services, spread across the rank and file, representing 14 states from Kerala to J and K, attended the same. The rally was also marking the 1071st day of the agitation, demanding OROP, which commenced on 16 Jun 15. Those who gathered did so in the scorching summer of Delhi. Over 40 members spoke on the occasion, projecting bonhomie and commonality in thought.
There was very little media coverage on the rally for multiple reasons. There were many more major events occurring in the nation including the formation of the Karnataka government, which dominated news headlines. The press also believed that the rally would have no new demands, hence ignored the same.
Most importantly, media houses were aware that the rally would be peaceful, there would be no anti-national sloganeering (unlike JNU rallies), no political leaders projecting party stands, no specific party criticism, hence, was out seeking more juicy news, ignoring veterans who sacrificed the better part of their lives for the security of the nation, but now face the apathy of the government.
They felt that the nation need not be told of the plight of those who have sat in quiet dharna for almost three years, demanding their justifiable rights and during this period have been manhandled, hard earned war medals torn apart, evicted forcibly from Jantar Mantar and arrested, yet maintained decorum and respect. They were right to an extent that the rally was peaceful, where veterans stood together, shoulder to shoulder as comrades in arms and only demanded what was promised decades ago and remained unfulfilled.
The rally took a few major unanimous decisions. Firstly, the protests would continue till OROP was implemented in full. The reason for this is the semi-implementation, as done now, has a cascading effect on pensions authorised under the seventh pay commission. Secondly, without naming specific political parties, veterans were requested to support those political parties, which promise to implement OROP as promised.
Thirdly, with elections now due in multiple states, veteran cells in each state would spread information on which party has promised to support demands of veterans. It is hoped that the veteran vote bank does become effective enough to force governments to avoid ignoring its justified demands. Fourthly, it demanded the release of the Reddy report, on which the MoD has been sitting for almost eighteen months, claiming it is studying the same.
Finally, the rally also questioned recent government decisions to reduce education cap on wards of war widows and disabled veterans, stopping of entitled rations and moving genuine disability cases to the supreme court, hurting sentiments and making it harder for veterans to pursue the same.
The protest did gain national coverage when it was initially launched, but over time, it has remained ignored. The government could ignore their demands as the veteran community and the organization steamrolling the protests, Indian Ex-Servicemen League, were hopelessly divided. While they lacked press coverage, they even failed to utilize the power of social media, which has become a tool, more powerful than the press.
The recent example of the PTM movement in Pak, threatening the might of the military is solely spreading because of social media. Media blackout of the movement is on official government orders, yet crowds gather in thousands. Veterans have multiple social media forums on which messages concerning their demands, government apathy and future course of actions could be communicated, not to the veteran community alone, but also to a sympathetic national public. It has yet to tap this important source.
A final question for the government, is whether it will act on a peaceful protest as adopted by the veteran community or would it take a violent protest like the Jat agitation, for it to accede to justifiable demands.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army