New Delhi: The One Rank One Pension protests have finally forced  PMO to take serious cognizance of the matter and hold talks with agitating ex-defence veterans.

Keeping the main focus on toning down the mood of the  protesters, who do not appear ready to concede any ground, the PMO has urged the agitators not to escalate the protest but to continue it on a low key for the next 10 days.

65 days and counting, a third veteran today joined the OROP protest by sitting on a fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar.

Principal Secretary (PMO) Nripendra Mishra met President of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement Lt Gen Balbir Singh today at PMO. It is learnt that Mishra asked him to help in restoring normalcy with immediate effect by calling off the fast-unto-death.

Balbir Singh expressed the views of ex-servicemen and stated that if a concrete assurance is given on OROP then the protest could be terminated. Singh also referred to earlier talks with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar wherein the Minister had sought a 10-day moratorium  to carryout discussions with PM. As a continuation to Parrikar’s demand, and as a consequence of today’s talk with PS Mishra, Lt Gen Balbir Singh (retd) has agreed not to intensify the agitation for next 10 days.