Mehalkalan (Punjab): With Punjab going to
polls on January 30, state Congress President Amarinder Singh
today promised to ex-servicemen that he will ensure that the
one rank one pension scheme was introduced.
He said, he had already taken up the matter with the
Central Government and hoped it will be implemented soon.
Addressing a function organised by the Punjab Chapter of
the Indian Ex-Service League here, Amarinder, himself an
ex-army man, regretted that "some bureaucrats sitting in Delhi
who had no idea as what it meant to be a soldier were trying
to put hurdles in the implementation."
He appealed to the ex-servicemen to help and support the
Congress in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab.
He said, ex-servicemen are pride of Punjab but
unfortunately they have not received their due after
retirement or leaving the services of the armed forces.
"An important step in this direction has already been
taken with the Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions having
recommended one rank one pension scheme," he said, while
adding, Congress was committed that the rights of
ex-servicemen are protected.
He said, the party will pursue with the Central
Government for 100 per cent implementation of One Rank One
Pension scheme which will benefit 8 lakh ex-servicemen of
Punjab.
Among other things he promised included that
ex-servicemen would be exempted from paying toll-tax on the
state highways to be constructed on Public Private
Partnerships basis, every effort shall be made to remove
anomalies of the 6th Pay Commission for Defence Personnel and
VAT on all CSD items will be exempted.
PTI
