Joining the veterans’ march to Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday submitted a memorandum supporting the stand taken by the three services chiefs against the alleged  bias against the defence services in the 7th Pay Commission. 

The march was led by Lt Gen (retried) SS Brar, the senior most amongst the veterans participating, and included among others senior retired army personnel including several Lieutenant Generals, Major Generals, Brigadiers, Colonels, JCOs and soldiers.

Senior Congress leaders including Ambika Soni, Asha Kumari and Harish Chaudhary also joined the veterans in their protest march.

The memorandum, addressed to the President, said: “The community of veterans across the country fully endorses the stand taken by the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force with regard to the recommendations of the seventh Central Pay Commission.” Capt Amarinder and other veterans told reporters that it was the bias of the bureaucrats against the armed forces and the blind eye turned by the political parties which led to this situation.

He said that such repeated wrong steps on part of the government can only demoralize the defence forces.