New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office intervened on Tuesday in the One-Rank-One-Pension imbroglio, and held talks with agitating ex-servicemen, who have agreed not to escalate their protest for the next 10 days, while the Delhi police apologised Tuesday to the veterans for its action against them on the Independence Day eve. The apology was given after a directive from home minister Rajnath Singh.
The meeting of ex-servicemen’s representatives with the PM’s principal secretary, Mr Nripendra Misra, came on a day a third veteran joined two others already on fast at Jantar Mantar, while joint commissioner of police (New Delhi) M.K. Meena went to the protest site and apologised for the August 14 police action.
Sources said Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag had played a key role in backchannel efforts to get the talks between agitating ex-servicemen and the government back on track.
“The talks had earlier collapsed, and the Army Chief played an important role in getting the two sides to talk again,” one of them said. “On August 14, a misunderstanding had taken place. We have discussed the issue in detail. At times, some confusion takes place.
We will try to take corrective action. I want to say our intention was not to hurt the soldiers,” Mr Meena said. “Whether they are in service or not, we respect them as they take care of external security. We are with you and this force will be for your service, and not to control you. If there is any problem... we will support you. We respect you.”
