Veterans linked to Dabhol/NTPC stage press conference at Press Club of India, presenting documents and urging immediate government action, warning of a prolonged sit-in if dues remain unpaid.

New Delhi | December 26, 2025

A group of 96 ex-servicemen associated with Dabhol/NTPC escalated their long-standing demand for unpaid salaries and pensions on Friday, threatening to launch an indefinite protest in Delhi if immediate resolution is not provided. The announcement came during a press conference at the Press Club of India.

Senior veterans from Mumbai presented detailed documents outlining years of unpaid dues, emphasizing that despite decades of dedicated service, the concerned institutions have failed to release their rightful payments. Many of the ex-servicemen, now elderly, face severe financial hardship, struggling to meet basic needs such as healthcare, food, and housing.

During the press briefing, emotions ran high as veterans recounted 24 years of delays and bureaucratic neglect. In a symbolic protest, some ex-servicemen removed their upper garments, declaring they had nothing left to lose. The moment deeply moved the journalists in attendance, who pledged to amplify their voices nationally and internationally and extended support for the proposed demonstration outside the Dabhol/NTPC headquarters.

The veterans underscored that the slogan “Jai Hind, Jai Jawan” is central to their identity, yet they are now compelled to take to the streets to claim justice. Describing the situation as a systemic failure, they called for urgent intervention.

Speaking at the event, Laxman Mahadik said, “24 years represent a significant portion of a lifetime. We served faithfully, but in return, only faced repeated delays.”

Suryakant Pawar emphasized the case’s documentation, urging accountability from the responsible authorities, while R.G. Pawar highlighted the dire conditions faced by soldiers who served the nation.

V.S. Salunkhe warned that all constitutional remedies have been exhausted, and the protest would escalate if no action is taken. Suresh Pachpute appealed to the media to prevent the issue from being ignored, asserting that continued inaction undermines soldiers’ rights.

Chandrakant Shinde noted that the matter now affects the future of 96 families, not just the individuals. Vijay Nikam stated that, if authorities fail to act, the ex-servicemen will stage an indefinite sit-in outside the Dabhol/NTPC headquarters.

The veterans reiterated their commitment to peaceful and lawful means of protest but stressed that decades of neglect have left them no choice but to prepare for decisive action to secure justice.