Swamy urges PM to intervene on OROP issue

A senior BJP leader has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "urgently intervene" on the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue for the Indian ex- servicemen, as the condition of those sitting on fast-unto-death has deteriorated. "I urge the Prime Minister to urgently intervene in the OROP issue before there are any casualties in the ongoing indefinite fast of ex-servicemen," said Subramanian Swamy, a senior BJP leader, who is currently on a visit in the US. "In any case the Prime Minister has a responsibility to intervene because two ministers viz., of Defence, who wants our party's promise in 2014 to be kept, and of Finance, who is concerned with the financial burden and hence has held up the implementation," he said.

"Under the conduct of business rules for the government, when two ministers disagree, the matter has to go before the Cabinet. "The Prime Minister can act on behalf of the Cabinet and later ratify," Swamy said in a statement. In New Delhi, the over 70-day-long agitation for 'One Rank One Pension' aggravated yesterday with one more veteran, who was on fast-unto-death, got hospitalised, even as two more joined the protests amid speculation that implementation of the scheme may be announced this week.