PRESS STATEMENT BY BJP NATIONAL PRESIDENT
SHRI RAJNATH SINGH

SALEM, TAMIL NADU : 27th September, 2008

The BJP calls upon Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to immediately redress the genuine concerns of our armed forces with regard to the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission and urgently eliminate the sense of neglect that they experiencing.

The BJP is deeply concerned over the unprecedented development where the armed forces have not raised their pay vouchers in accordance with the 6th Central Pay Commission notification. This is a completely unwarranted situation arising purely on account of the general administrative and leadership paralysis that has become the hallmark of the UPA government since its inception. Why should such have situation arisen in the first place?

Democracy permits every voter an equal opportunity to put forth their grievances with hope of redressal by the said government. It must be emphasized that this situation has arisen totally on account of the government’s inaction on the core demands of pay scale parity of the armed forces personnel with civilian government employees. Left with no option, the armed forces have decided to raise their pay vouchers only on old scales and not the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. Their act of protest should NOT be construed as any form of indiscipline.

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.

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