Delhi police on Friday arrived at Jantar Mantar, the venue for ex-servicemen’s protests over One Rank One Pension for nearly two months now, to evict the protesting soldiers arguing that it was necessary ahead of the security for Independence Day’s celebrations.
As expected, the incensed soldiers refused to budge and the scuffle followed. In the process, the soldiers complained they were meted out humiliating treatment by the members of Delhi police.
Delhi police justified its action, but the social media simply erupted in anger. From celebrities to non-BJP politicians, all condemned the action of Delhi Police, which reports to the BJP-led central government.
Bollywood music director, Vishal Dadlani tweeted asking people why they were not angry over the shabby treatment given to those who protected Indian all their life.
His tweet read;
Why aren't YOU angry about the Police attacking & forcibly evicting our ex-servicemen? Don't they deserve your support? #JaiHind #JaiJawaan
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 14, 2015
Vishal, who’s usually very vocal on political issues, posted several tweet related to this incident. Two of his earlier tweets from this morning read:
If we can't respect the people who give their lives to keep us safe, how can we celebrate Independence? Heartbroken. #JaiHind #JaiJawaan
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 14, 2015
This made me cry out of anger and shame! The least we can do as a nation, is respect our soldiers! Shame on us! https://t.co/GDWsSd8Lz3
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 14, 2015
The photo of a soldier that the music director said made him cry was of Grenadier Bhishambar, who had his shirt torn following scuffle with police.
TV personality Raghu Ram too took to micro blogging site to express his disgust and anger on the treatment meted out to soldiers. But after his initial tweets, he said that he will cheer loudly and appreciate central government if it announced the OROP on Independence Day.
https://twitter.com/tweetfromRaghu/status/632117905367306240
As for politicians, the Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal minced no words when he tweeted this;
Ex-servicemen being forcibly thrown out of jantar mantar? Bizarre.They protected us till yest. Now they r security threat for indep day?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 14, 2015
In his next tweet, Kejriwal said that the way soldiers’ peaceful protests were forcibly crushed, it was evident that the NDA had started behaving like UPA .
Within a year, NDA has started behaving the way UPA behaved in its second term. This is how UPA-II wud crush movements.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 14, 2015
जिन हुक्मरानों को अपनी जनता से डर लगने लगे और जनता से बचने के लिए पुलिस का सहारा लेना पड़े तो समझो उन हुक्मरानों के शासन की उलटी गिनती शुरू
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 14, 2015
Among other politicians, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reached Jantar Mantar to express his solidarity with the protesting soldiers. He asked PM Modi to announce a date for implementing what was his big election promise.
जो प्रधानमंत्री ने #OROP का वायदा किया था, उसको पूरा करना चाहिए, एक date देनी चाहिए
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2015
OROP remained top twitter trend for most part of Friday. Soon, the central government realised the gravity of what many would say ill-advised action on Friday morning. Reports quoting the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (himself an ex-soldier) and India’s defence minister, Manohar Parrikar said that government was actively thinking of announcing OROP soon. There was also a suggestion that this could be announced by Modi from his Independence Day speech on 15 August.
Here are some of the other notable comments on OROP following the attempts to forcibly evict soldiers from Jantar Mantar on Friday.
स्वतन्त्रता दिवस की पूर्व संध्या पर राष्ट्र-प्रहरियों को इस 'सम्मान' के लिए ज़िल्ले इलाही का आभार! #OROP pic.twitter.com/8fAutZNaca
— Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) August 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/ShirishKunder/status/632096384301187072
who has perceived these national heroes as security threat?? who has ordered their forceful eviction?? this need to be investigated. #OROP
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 14, 2015
So first our Army men brave bullets while in service. And then they face police lathis after they retire. Wah re India! #achchedin #OROP
— Seema Goswami (@seemagoswami) August 14, 2015
Modi came to power with slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" at every rally
Now his new slogan is "Jai Ambani Jai Adani" #OROP #WeStandWithVeterans— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) August 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/GauravPandhi/status/632099912193208320
Those expecting knee-jerk reactions from NaMo like other immature leaders will be disappointed. Those who have faith in him, won't! #OROP
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) August 14, 2015
Can't blame @OfficeOfRG & @ArvindKejriwal for jumping on to #OROP bandwagon. Govt's giving them target practice
— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) August 14, 2015