NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani, on Monday acknowledged the need of implementation of one-rank one-pension for ex-defence servicemen.

“Armed forces are a category apart. And therefore this question of one rank, one pension has to be properly dealt with and justly endorsed,” said Advani.

Addressing a gathering in New Delhi while releasing “Guarding India’s Integrity”, an autobiography of Lt-Gen (Retd) S K Sinha, Advani said that he wants his party to incorporate this demand in it’s agenda for governance.

“I can only say that my colleagues who are preparing the (BJP) manifesto and agenda for governance…I want that they should take a pledge to resolve this issue also,” he said.

Advani expressed regret over the return of medals by some retired defence personnel in protest of government’s failure to implement their demand.

“Many delegations of ex-servicemen have called on me in recent months and I am convinced of the justness of this demand. We are fully committed to implementing the ‘One Rank One Pension’ policy if we win the people’s mandate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections,” he said.

Former soldiers under the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement have been demanding that the defense personnel should get the same pension, irrespective of the date on which the soldier retires. The pension rises time to time with wage revision.

Retired soldiers of varying ranks had returned 7,500 medals won in combat and for distinguished service on March 14 in pursuit of their demand.