Peaceful rally being dismantled, Veterans at Jantar Mantar manhandled!
PRERIT CHAUHAN / ROHIT SHARMA
NEW DELHI : The NGT on October 5 had banned all protests and dharnas around the Jantar Mantar area, which has been a hotspot of many agitations over the past decades, saying such activities violate environmental laws.
Police and civic officials on Monday demolished tents and makeshift structures set up by ex-servicemen protesting there demanding implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme.The former servicemen have been protesting there for the past more than two years and police said the exercise was carried out after the October 5 order of the National Green Tribunal.
Police said the protesters were informed about the NGT order in advance and asked either to leave or bring a stay order from the court. However, the ex-servicemen termed it “an attempt to throttle our voice in a democracy”.
Major General (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is among those spearheading the protest at the site, said police and MCD officials came with a JCB machine and demolished their tents and other temporary structures.
“They also took away our equipment and other stuff like beddings at around 8.45am. We have been protesting peacefully demanding implementation of the OROP scheme,” he said.
“It is an attempt to throttle our voice in a democracy. And, even if there has been any order from any tribunal, there is a way to do things. What they have done is completely unfair and unjust,” he added.
