Farmers fight for ex-servicemen

BARNALA: 'Jai jawan jai kisan', the age-old slogan, has come in handy for former defence personnels to put forth their long-pending demand of 'one-rank-one-pension'. For one would wonder, what role the 'kisan' might have to play in the ex-soldier fraternity's cause for desired pay scales, former defence personnel have tried to rope in the farming community to stand by them in their fight for attaining higher pensions.
The Indian Ex-servicemen League had organized a state-level rally here at the grain market on Sunday to reassert their resentment at the Sixth pay Commission recommendations and to rehash their demand for its review.
While the UPA government came in for severe criticism in the hands of ex-servicemen on the issue of recommendations for turning a blind eye to their demands, Col (retd) Partap Inder Singh Phulka said "No price is too big for ensuring security of the nation. While soldiers have done their bit always, the Union government has been shying away in reciprocating fairly by meting out step-motherly treatment to the veterans".
Blaming the government's policies for the loss of interest and enthusiasm amongst people to join defence forces, Phulka said presently there was a shortage of 10,000 officers in the Indian Army.
Col (retd) Bhag Singh said "Military veterans are airing their grievances publicly for long, but no government has ever given any heed to them." Bhag said though parties included one-rank-one-pension issue in their manifestos, but nothing materialised.
Col (retd) GS Sohi said, "As soldiers have aligned themselves with farmers, they would be a force to reckon with for the government to concede to their demand."
Assuring the defence personnel of their full support, Punjab marketing board chairman and farmer leader Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said he would urge Punjab CM PS Badal to take up the matter with the Union government.