Punjab Newsline Network
Friday, 01 May 2009
GURDASPUR: Gurdaspur Congress candidate, Pratap Singh Bajwa while addressing a massive rally of ex-servicemen (ESM) at Sarna near Pathankot today promised the retired soldiers to get their long pending dues settled besides exempting the serving personnel from income tax.
He said, coming from a family that has produced many eminent soldiers, war heroes and generals, I have an intimate knowledge of their problems and can envisage solutions to them. As a people’s leader, I understand that a soldier who protects the nation and countrymen must be supported by the government in every manner possible and this is what I am promising to my soldier brothers, he asserted.
The rally was attended hundred of people from an Army background. Bajwa said, justice must be done to the ESM community by accepting their just demand for One Rank One Pension.
He further said that he would take up the case with the Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM and formulate opinion inside and outside the government to help them get this long-pending and much awaited justice.
Punjab has long been the sword arm of the country, pointed out Mr. Bajwa. However, in recent years the decreased recruitment from the state has meant that fewer young men from Punjab are getting a chance to serve their country, he rued. I will strive for the scrapping of the unfair RMP formula for recruitment to be replaced by a more fair system based on merit, fitness and acceptability of military service, maintained Bajwa.
Bajwa also promised that he would streamline the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme and also provide additional medical staff for them.
“I have already formed a panel of six eminent lawyers at the district level to provide free legal advice and aid, including representation in court for ex-servicemen. This will be further strengthened and the services extended to serving soldiers who face many legal and property problems. Besides, I will also take up the matter of opening more extension counters of CSD canteens in the remote areas of Gurdaspur with the Army authorities,” remarked Bajwa.
He said he would construct a Sainik Rest Houses for the comfort and convenience of soldiers and ESM at Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Dhar area.
Bajwa also proposed that a high-powered State Soldiers Tribunal should be set up to bring the issues to the notice of concerned authorities and resolve them.
Payment of OAP to all World War 2 veterans, provisions for payment of full salaries to all ESM working in PESCO, PSEB, bus stands and telephone exchanges as per Central guidelines and rules were some of his other promises to the ESM of his constituency.
During occasion, while supporting Bajwa in his efforts to help the servicemen, his elder brother, Brig. MPS Bajwa, YSM (retd), said that Pratap Singh Bajwa belongs to a family of soldiers and he has closely witnessed the plight of retired servicemen. What he is promising is not election agenda but something that he truly believes in and will fight for, asserted Brig. MPS Bajwa who is a war veteran of Bangladesh & Kargil war and was instrumental in capturing the Tiger Hill.
Partap Singh Bajwa promises welfare package for Ex-servicemen
Ex Servicemen League supports Congress in Punjab
Col Tihara, who had filed his nomination papers from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency as an independent candidate also withdrew his candidature in support of the Congress candidate Manish Tewari. He said, he was impressed with the policies of the Congress, particularly Amarinder Singh and Tewari towards the ex servicemen. He also appreciated the stand taken by Tewari in support of one rank one pension for the ex servicemen.
Thanking Col Tihara for his support, Tewari said, he has always been in favour of one rank one pension and he would ensure that this scheme is fully implemented without any delay or exception. He assured Col Tihara that he would ensure that the issues he has taken up for the redressal of the problems of the ex servicemen would be properly and duly addressed. He expressed his gratitude to the ex servicemen for their support to the Congress in general and to him in particular.
Ex Servicemen League supports Congress in Punjab
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Comment: Tall promises for garnering votes. The Ex Servicemen remain cheated and forgotten after every election cycle. Empty promises galore!
