Union minister VK Singh's daughter joins OROP protest

The daughter of Union Minister General V K Singh (retired) on Sunday joined ex-the servicemen’s agitation at Jantar Mantar to express support to their “just” demand on the long-pending ‘One Rank One Pension’ and suggested that her father, the former army chief, should also do so.

Mrinalini Singh, wife of a serving army officer, joined the protest at Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning.

She said her father has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking early implementation of OROP. Sources close to the minister said the five-page letter was written around the time the protest began, about two months back.

“This is a just cause and the matter has been pending for many years. I have come here as the daughter of an ex-serviceman to give support to the veterans who have served the country but are now protesting for their rights for over two months,” she said.

Asked if her father, Minister of State for External Affairs Singh V K Singh had approved of her joining the protest since he is serving in the government, she said, “I have not sought his permission and neither do I need his permission.”

She said she had come straight from Hisar in Haryana “because I feel for the cause. A few years down the line, I will also become the wife of an ex-serviceman.” She added that she has full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has promised the OROP.

“Our previous governments have been promising to do something. This government looks committed towards fulfilling it. So I hope it fulfils it,” Mrinalini said.

Asked whether her father should also join the protest, she said, “I am going to meet him. I will definitely ask him to come and join the protest.”

Ex-servicemen and their kin have been protesting for the implementation of ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme for the last over two months and are likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week to press for early implementation of their demand. 

Four former service chiefs recently wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, asking him to “urgently intervene” in the OROP row.

Ten former Service chiefs have also written a joint letter to Modi seeking early implementation of OROP.

Photograph: VK Singh's daughter Mrinalini Singh at the OROP protest site. Photograph: PTI