Armed forces veterans, who had returned around 20,000 medals in the last eight years to pressurize the Centre to implement the one rank one pension scheme, now want their military decorations back. Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement that fought for OROP has written to the defence ministry in this regard.

CHANDIGARH: Armed forces veterans, who had returned around 20,000 medals in the last eight years to pressurize the central government to implement the one rank one pension (OROP) scheme, now want their military decorations back.

Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), an umbrella organization of veterans that fought for OROP, has written to the defence ministry asking for the medals, which are currently lying at the office of the President. IESM chairman Lt Gen (retd) Raj Kadyan, who was the first veteran to return his medals to the President in 2008, said the present OROP scheme was diluted and the veterans would work to ensure that all their demands are met, but there was no reason to give up the proudly earned decorations.

“The environment is generally happy. I do not consider the unsanctioned portion of OROP serious enough to merit continued keeping of the medals with the government,” he said.

“Of late there have been demands to take back our medals. The IESM passed a resolution to begin the process of retrieving the medals,” he added.

