Ex-servicemen hold protest, demand equal pension

Photo courtesy PTIEx servicemen deposit their medals at a protest in New Delhi on Sunday.
Collect gallantry medals for returning them to government
Around 1,000 retired defence personnel on Sunday staged a protest here demanding “equal pension for each rank” and collected their gallantry medals for returning them to the government.

Ex-servicemen from all the three defence forces held the protest at Jantar Mantar.

They would also submit a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one of the organisers said.

The main demand is that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retires, he or she should get the same pension.

“It is a shame for the country that soldiers have to return their gallantry awards and meritorious medals and come to the streets for redressing their grievances,” they said.
The Hindu: ESM hold protest, demand equal pension