Anna Hazare extends support to ex-servicemen over OROP protests

New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare today accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of not fulfilling even a "single promise" including implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme and assured the defence personnel that he will do whatever was possible in getting their due.

Hazare, a former soldier himself today joined the protests by ex-servicemen over delay in implementation of OROP, said he would travel across the nation to "awaken" people on the issue and it will culminate into a protest at the Ramlila Maidan here on October 2.

Without taking the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gandhian activist said, he (Modi) had promised OROP before the polls, but he is yet to take a decision on the issue.

"When we will come to power we will implement OROP...They (Modi and the BJP) had told this in Rohtak," Hazare said while referring to the Prime Minister's pre-election rally.

"Shahid Diwas (Kargil Vijay Diwas) is not a day to make speeches. We will do whatever (we can) for (implementation) of One Rank One Pension... I will go to many states across the country and do rallies," he said while addressing ex-defence personnel at Jantar Mantar here where they have been holding protests over the non-implementation of OROP.

Terming Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar a "good" man, he said, even he has not been able to fulfil the assurance.

"Our Defence Minister is good. He is good and I know him well. In February, he had taken a decision that Rs 500 crore will be taken from the Finance Ministry and if it was less then he will ask for more.

"Still the assurance was not being fulfilled. But this is not happening. Still two months are left. We will go across the country and awaken people," he said, adding that my only request is please don't resort to violence. Common man should not be affected because of this," he added.

Hazare also cautioned the government to fulfil all the promises it had made before the polls or else every passing day will be a "loss".