BJP asks PM for party in armed forces and civilian pay scales

New delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) Joining hands with the Armed Forces in resenting the 6th Pay Commission Report, the BJP today cautioned the Government not to take the issue lightly and demanded parity in pay scales of the armed forces and civil services In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, described the setting up of committees to go into the matter as nothing more than a "sham". "Instead of taking up the issue squarely the government has resorted to sham exercise of setting up committees, in a routine way, and without commitment to the cause of the Armed Force personnel," he said.

There was no previous occasion except in 1857 AD, when the Armed Forces felt so slighted, neglected and humiliated as now. While the 5th pay commission had inflicted serious blow to the status of the Armed forces personnel, the 6th Pay commission left nothing to hurt them, he said, refering to the dismay expressed by three services chiefs on the matter.

The BJP's Deputy leader in Lok Sabha pointed out that motivation of armed forces personnel was necessary for defence preparedness of the country. There was already shortage of young officers in the ranks. This should have been 'sincerely' addressed to the central's sixth pay commission and more importantly by the Government, he said.

Besides parity in payscales with civil services cadres, Mr Malhotra also demanded restoration of the warrant of precedence of all ranks of armed forces personnel to the date of the adoption of the constitution i.e. January 26,1952, in addition to grant of one bank and one pension for the veterans.

"I urge you to accept their justified demands in the best interest of our nation," he said.

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