Medals are a recognition of the sacrifice done by the armed forces for the nation. Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces. MANOHAR PARRIKAR, defence minister
Terming war veterans’ attempt of burning their medals as an insult to the nation and armed forces, defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the onus lies on the protesting exservice personnel to prove that there was no political motive behind their One Rank, One Pension (OROP) stir.
“If I say something, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not political,” he said when asked if he saw a political link attached to the continuing agitation despite the government’s notification on the OROP scheme. “Medals are a recognition of the sacrifice done by the armed forces for the nation. Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces,” Parrikar said. He added “Medals have nothing to do with service conditions whereas OROP is about service conditions. It does not say you are entitled for medals, it talks about service conditions like your pay and entitlement.”Stating that the BJP had fulfilled its electoral promise of implementing the OROP, Parrikar asked the ex-servicemen to approach a judicial body if they had any grievances.
“Let them put the demands before the judicial committee, they will address it,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the minister unveiled the first phase of the commissioning of Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft fleet at the Naval Air Station ‘INS Rajali’ here, about 85 kms from Chennai.

The first phase was marked by the induction of the eight P-8I planes along with the completion of aircraft equipment testing, trials and crew training for all the eight aircraft. In the next phase, four more such aircraft would be inducted ,making it a fleet of 12 high-tech surveillance planes. Dignitaries from the field of defence were in attendance during the event.