The Ex-servicemen will receive good news about OROP by Navratri.” – Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

Veterans will Receive Good News about OROP by Navratri – Attending the Ceremony, Mr.Parrikar also warned Pakistan, “whether we should withdraw troops from Siachen or keep them deployed is our decision. We do not need any lessons from Nawaz Sharif and I choose to ignore it.”

‘Veterans will Receive Good News about OROP by Navratri’, Defence Minister Mr.Parrikar said on Sunday. Parrikar was in Vadtal, Kheda district of Gujarat, to attend the closing ceremony of a Mahasammelan of retired servicemen under the ‘Akhil Bhartiya Purva Sainik Seva Parishad’ (All India Former Defence Personnels Association).

Attending the Ceremony, Mr.Parrikar also warned Pakistan, “whether we should withdraw troops from Siachen or keep them deployed is our decision. We do not need any lessons from Nawaz Sharif and I choose to ignore it.”

Parrikar replied saying so, when asked to comment about Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly on September 30, putting forth a four-point peace initiative with India, which included a proposal of demilitarisation of Kashmir. Parrikar also said that the situation in Kashmir was peaceful and the government was committed to ensuring peace in the valley.

Parrikar said that Make in India was a key program for the defence sector as it was seen as a generator of employment for almost 30 lakh youth, however, advised patience in the implementation of the policy.

Speaking of the overseas deployment of INS Trikand in Istanbul, Parrikar said that Turkey was “our friend” and the exercise would help strengthen friendship. “Turkey is our friend and INS Trikand has reached Istanbul as part of a joint exercise,” Parrikar said about the stealth frigate of Indian Navy that is currently on a deployment in West Asia, Africa and Europe.

Earlier, Parrikar visited the Swaminarayan temple on arriving in Vadtal, Kheda from Vadodara and proceeded to the stage where he also delivered a 30-minute speech to the gathering of over 2000 former servicemen, reminiscing his younger days in Goa. Parrikar said, as a child, he would often accompany Army men posted in the state, to show them directions in Goa.

Veterans present in the ceremony were positive and when asked, a senior veteran said that he believes in the words of Mr.Parrikar and hoped that the Defence Minister will stick to his promise.

Source: Ex-Servicemen Welfare