SALEM: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene immediately to set right the anomalies in pay scales of armed forces. This has lowered the morale of soldiers and officers.“The BJP is deeply concerned … that the armed forces have not raised their pay vouchers as per the Sixth Pay Commission notification. The anomalies have lowered the morale of our soldiers and officers, and it is not a good development,” said Mr. Singh, who was here to address the concluding session of the two-day executive and general council meeting of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit on Saturday.
Blaming the problem on “administrative paralysis” of the UPA government, Mr. Singh said this situation had risen from the government’s failure to act on the demand of the armed forces for pay parity with civilian employees. “Left with no option, the armed forces have decided to raise their pay vouchers on the old pay scale and not on the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations. It should not be construed as any form of indiscipline.” “Even the pension for soldiers and officers has been reduced,” he said.
Pointing out that maintaining the morale of soldiers and officers should be the highest national priority, Mr. Singh said that even the pay of a Lt. General was lower than that of a Deputy Director-General in the Border Security Force. The incorrect fixing of pay scales for middle-level officers had also created some anomalies.
Set right anomalies in pay scales of armed forces: Rajnath
The armed forces have every reason to be aggrieved. Our brave jawans and officers have relentlessly and valiantly defended the honor of the country against every form of aggression, be it open war or cross border terrorism. They have also rendered exceptional service in times of national crisis including natural calamity or even restoration of law and order in emergency situations. The morale and happiness of our jawans and officers should be our national priority. One who is willing to make the supreme sacrifice in national interest deserves not only to get his due but also at the appropriate time.
Press statement by BJP National President: Rajnath
Comment: It is the responsibility of all Political Parties to uphold the Rank, Status and Honour of the Armed Forces Personnel, of all those Serving as well as the Ex- Servicemen. This input needs to be an important aspect in the Parliament discussions on National security. Seldom are important issues given precedence cutting across Party Lines, instead of merely playing the blame game. Armed Forces have been the victim of Bureaucrats for the last 6 decades.
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