PANAJI: In a scathing attack on the Modi Government for giving step motherly treatment to defense personnel’s of the country, KPCC President D K Shiv Kumar on Friday said that youths of Indian and so of Goa are suffering due to failures of double engine. “Give us opportunity to form a government and we promise to protect communal harmony, give corruption free and stable, strong government.” Shivkumar said.
Shivkumar on Friday addressed a press conference in Panaji and said that the Modi government has curtailed the benefits given to defense soldiers. The leader of opposition Digambar Kamat, AICC Incharge Goa Dinesh Gundu Rao, AICC Media Incharge – Goa Alka Lamba, GPCC President Shri Girish Chodankar, Pratap Rathod and Mahila President Beena Naik were present on the occasion.
He said that around 1,22,555 posts are vacant in the defense areas. “Modi government is compromising the security of the country. It also deprived 30 lakh ex-servicemen from getting the benefit of ‘One Rank One Pension’. The Congress government always worked in the interest of our soldiers, but the BJP is doing politics also on security.” He said.
He informed that on 17.02.14 the Congress Government had issued an order and approved the OROP with effect from 01.04.14. But BJP rejected it and issued a new order on 07.11.15 and completely snatched the OROP rights. The order said that military personnel who took voluntary retirement after 01.07.14 in these three services will not get One Rank One Pension.
Shivkumar said that the Modi government also rejected the demand to revise the pension of 30 lakh soldiers every year and reduced this time period to 5 years, making OROP ‘one rank, five pension’ instead of ‘one rank one pension’.
He said that the Ex-Servicemen Health Scheme (ECHS) facility also suffered as the budget to this was cut by Rs 1990 crore, compared to last year.
He said that the Modi government restricted the purchase of goods in the CSD canteen and the GST was imposed. “The Modi government imposed a tax on the ‘disability pension’ of soldiers. This is shameful.” He said.
He informed that Congress governments always worked in the interest of ex-servicemen and they were engaged in work places like petrol pumps, gas agency, coal shipments, transport contracts, government security contracts, after retirement. “However, these facilities have almost ended during the tenure of the Modi government as due to privatization, petroleum companies do not give such reservations and government companies have also gradually stopped this facility.” He said.
“Goans should understand how the Modi government has failed to deliver. Hence, I appeal to the people of Goa to give one opportunity to Congress and witness development. Congress has always delivered whatever promised.” He said.
