Don’t return your medals; Engage with One Man Judicial Committee and Government to sort out contentious issues

Don’t return your medals : Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

PRESS STATEMENT

“Don’t return your medals; Engage with One Man Judicial Committee and Government to sort out contentious issues”

November 10, 2015

Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

The notification by Government of One Rank, One Pension (OROP) on November 07, 2015 is a culmination of 40 years of wait by the Veterans and Widows. The decision marked OROP the biggest and most significant welfare measure for veterans in Post-Independent India by any Government.

Some veterans and veteran organizations have expressed their dissatisfaction about this notification and I learn with apprehension of their decision to surrender their medals to express their protest. I request them not to do so.

I do accept and agree that there are certain issues in OROP that remain contentious. But I urge veterans to understand how far we have come and instead of agitating continue to engage with government including with One-man judicial committee on the issue going forward.

The political leadership of PM Modi is without doubt one of the most pro-forces and pro-veteran governments in history of India and this is something that needs to be built on as further ways to improve the cause of our Armed forces, Veterans and families.

As someone who led this issue with the Government and Parliament since 2006 and fighting for the welfare of veterans, I appeal to veterans to not to agitate but engage with government. I continue to stand by my commitment to the OROP cause and to addressing all issues affecting the veterans, our armed forces personnel and their families.