Black Independence Day, cry OROP protesters at Jantar Mantar

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, August 14, 2015: A group of former Indian Army servicemen demanding the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) policy on Friday resisted eviction from the protest site at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by the Delhi Police and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were trying to clear the area in view of the security concerns ahead of the Independence Day on Saturday.

 

The eviction came under severe attack from the veterans who called it a "Black Independence Day". As police and the NDMC men started clearing the protest hotspot in the heart of Delhi, the ex-servicemen refused to go away and alleged that cops manhandled those protesting quietly. "I was pushed by the cops who even tore my shirt," 82-year-old Vishambhar shouting anti-police slogans said.

A group of ex-servicemen demanding One Rank One Pension have been on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for the past two months. Terming the police action as Black Independence Day, group captain (retd) VK Gandhi said, "The way police have acted against us just a day before Independence day is unjustified.If there was a security concern they should have discussed with us before. Now we will continue are protests from Jantar Mantar and if they arrest us, we will continue it in jail. It is a black Independence day as they have tried to curb our independence."

A final decision on the agitation will be taken on August 15 as the ex-servicemen hope an announcement may be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on that day,

Ex-servicemen at the spot said the police action was "barbaric" and "undemocratic" and requested police commissioner BS Bassi to restore their tents. "This is shocking and obnoxious. Nothing can be worse. We are the protectors of India’s Independence. We are requesting the Police Commissioner to restore our tents since we had permission. The move to remove our tents is barbaric, undemocratic and dictatorial as it comes on the eve of Independence Day," Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement.

However, senior police officer claimed that it was a drive by NDMC to clean the area and cops were assisting them. In the drive they were removing all posters, banners and tents. "As Delhi is on a high alert ahead of Independence Day so we are removing the protestors to ensure security," a senior officer said.

Kejriwal, Rahul join cause

Politicians from the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party were seen at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with the protesting ex-servicemen. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the eviction and urged Modi to accept on Independence Day their demand for One Rank One Pension while Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Jantar Mantar later on Friday.

"Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of Jantar Mantar? Bizarre. They protected us till yesterday. Now they are a security threat for Independence Day?" the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted. "Within a year, the NDA has started behaving the way UPA behaved in its second term. This is how UPA-II would crush movements," Kejriwal added.

Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala demanded Modi should apologise for the eviction. "Everyone concedes that Modi government na kisaano ki, na jawaano ki, sirf beimaanon ki," he said. "The Prime Minister should announce OROP. He should also apologise to the former servicemen and Army men," Surjewala added.

"Congress condemns what happened at Jantar Mantar today. This will have a bearing on the morale of our defence forces," parliemantarian Deepender S Hooda said. "We extend our full-hearted support to the demand of OROP. It’s been one and half years. Why has the government not fulfilled this demand?" he asked.

Courtesy: Indiatoday