Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi faced protest from the ex-servicemen who are staging a protest for the implementation of one-rank-one-pension at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the Government has sent out a clear message to the Delhi police that the ex-servicemen should not be evicted. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju called up Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi ordering him that these defence veterans should not be removed from the protest site.
Agitating ex-servicemen demanding implementation of OROP were allegedly manhandled by the police who tried to evict them on security grounds ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
The police said they tried to evict protesters from various outfits from Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital following a request by civic agency New Delhi Municipal Council.
The ex-servicemen have been carrying out protest on the issue in several places since June 15. They want that pension payable to each rank should be the same irrespective of when they retire.
The OROP, if implemented, will benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen.