Cong also woos ex-servicemen
Wednesday, 30/11/2011
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111202/punjab.htm#5
One day after the Punjab government tried to woo war decorated soldiers and former servicemen, the Pradesh Congress today claimed that its president Capt Amarinder Singh would lead a party delegation to take up their demands with the Prime Minister.
Punjab Congress Ex-Servicemen Cell convener GS Jawanda said it was good that the supreme sacrifice of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was recognised, but that the Akalis had politicised the event for vested interests.
Jawanda claimed that the Akalis had done nothing for the ex-servicemen during the past nearly five years with the Sanik Welfare Department had been rendered completely non-functional. He said even demands of ex-servicemen regarding employability had not been addressed.
He said the Pradesh Congress was in the process of drafting the party’s agenda for ex-servicemen under the chairmanship of Maj-Gen Gopal Dewedi (retd). Jawanda said Capt Amarinder would also take up the demands of ex-servicemen, including that for one-rank one-pension, with the Prime Minister soon.
Urging the ex-servicemen to see through the conspiracy of the Akalis to woo them during the election time, Jawanda said the people should compare what the Badal family had done for them vis-à-vis that of Capt’s family. He also claimed that the seven lakh ex-servicemen would not be affected by such attempts to woo them and that they would support the Congress in the forthcoming assembly poll.
