Services want relief on canteen back

BANGALORE: This could be one test thatthe Dharam-Siddu combo might find too hot to handle. Upset over the Karnatakagovernment''s decision to withdraw the time-honoured privilege given to the armedforces, the ex-servicemen, war widows and dependents have decided to protest themove, what they term negative and uncalled for.Dropping the budgetbomb, deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah had withdrawn the current taxconcession of 8 per cent on luxury goods and 4 per cent on other goods sold inCanteen Stores Department. Irked by this, the National Ex-ServicemenCoordination Committee members have decided to boycott the Independence Daycelebrations in Bangalore. Instead, they will sit on a relay hunger strike nearGandhi statue from 9 am on Sunday — an unprecedented move. The government,however, has defended the decision saying that the concession was being misused.The Krishna government too had withdrawn the concessions two years back, only torestore it after much outcry.Though some senior members of the armedforces are against hitting the road, many have extended their tacitsupport.Appealing to the ex-servicemen not to sully the image of theforces by spearheading the agitation, Air Marshal (Rtd) T J Master, president,Air Force Association, said: "There have been enquiries from Mysore, Belgaum,Bidar, Hubli and Mangalore over this government move. The budget proposal willdefinitely lower the state''s image. We want to settle the issue with a smile andnot through slogans.�Brig J S Bajwa, Commander,Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area, who called on CM Dharam Singh with an appeal towithdraw the budget proposal, claims to have got an assurance. "The CM said hewill reconsider. The canteen benefits are the lifeline of many former soldiers,war widows and their families. We don''t want the facility to be misused and havemeasures put in place to monitor the same. The limits have been relooked andsmartcards are in place,� Bajwa told.While there''s complete or partial exemptionfor CSD goods in other states, Karnataka is the only state to have snatched thereliefs enjoyed by the defence personnel. "Over and above the multiple tax of 4per cent and 8 per cent KST on sales purchase, resale tax at 1.5 per cent and 15per cent cess on KST is paid by the CSD. Let there be a one-slab taxation forall goods so that the government could earn a steady revenue,� CSD sourcessaid.Meanwhile, some senior serving and retired defence officialsare said to have taken a representation to their Commander-in-Chief A P J AbdulKalam.Many senior defence officials who spoke to felt that the moraleof protectors of the country is much bigger than a few crores the stategovernment would accrue through this additional revenue mobilisation.