With no end in sight to the deadlock between ex-servicemen and the Narendra Modi government, one more defence veteran, along with the father of a martyr, have joined the fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar. With this, the total number of those on hunger strike for implementation of One Rank One Pension has gone up to eight.
Those who joined the fast on Wednesday are former Navy personnel Commander AK Sharma and Sanwal Ram Yadav, father of martyr Lance Naik Sunil Kumar Yadav.
The other veterans currently on fast-unto-death are Colonel Pushpender Singh, Havaldar Ashok Chauhan, Havaldar Major Singh, Havaldar Sahib Singh, Major Pyar chand and Naik Uday Singh, of which the first two are currently in hospital.
This comes even as the Army veterans, who have been protesting for OROP at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, are likely to reject the government formula and escalate the agitation.
However, more meetings are expected to take place between the representatives of ex-servicemen and the government to discuss the impasse.
Sources said that there are two major bones of contention between the two sides.
The first factor of conflict is the government's offer to fix pension at the 2011 base pay level, which is not acceptable to the ex-servicemen.
The other bone of contention is the demand of ex-servicemen to give a three per cent annual increment, which the government is not willing to accept.
Government sources have now said that in the wake of these differences, an announcement on OROP in the next few days is unlikely.
Reports had earlier said the scheme would be announced on August 28, the 50th anniversary of 1965 war.
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