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Military veterans plan hunger-strike

NEW DELHI: Military veterans will take to the streets again on May 27 across the country in protest against the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations. Although better pensions form part of their demands, the veterans will essentially be quarterbacking for the serving personnel who are neither allowed to form associations nor vent their grievances in public.

“All veterans have been asked to take part in the hunger-strike. Such an action is necessary to inform the people about the mistreatment of the military and highlight the genuine demands of the armed forces personnel. We are resorting to the hunger-strike as we have been driven to the wall by the Pay Commission and have exhausted most avenues of protest,” said Satbir Singh, a gallantry award winner.

One of the planned venues for the fast is near India Gate, where several former generals, officers of other ranks and soldiers were denied permission to hold a rally on April 27. “This denial of peaceful protest and paying homage to the martyrs has further angered the retired armed forces personnel. They say that they had voluntarily surrendered their fundamental rights while in service and generally followed the same as veterans. But that does not mean the government should ill-treat the military,” said Major General (retd.) Satbir Singh.

The armed forces feel the setting up of a review committee is an eyewash as it has no serving and retired military officer.

The armed forces are pressing for a separate review pay board with members from serving and retired defence personnel, one rank one pension, military service pay (MSP) at 62.5 per cent of basic pay for personnel below officer ranks and 56.5 per cent of basic pay for officers and restoration of respect and status of the armed forces.

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