CM slams Centre, calls it ‘anti-Army’

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday attacked the Modi-led Central government, calling it “anti-Army”. He also attacked the Central government for giving “another” extension to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the 1984 riots.

In a tweet, the CM alleged that the Central government is “just using” the Army’s sacrifices for politi-cal gains. “Weak OROP, reduction in disability pension and now this. Isn’t Modi government anti-Army? They just milch Army’s sacrifices for political gains,” he wrote.

Mr Kejriwal’s tweet comes in response to a media report, which he quoted in his tweet, saying that the armed forces are upset with a letter issued by the defence ministry regarding their rank disparity vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts.

According to the quoted report, the defence ministry circular brings the rank of armed forces officers a notch down compared to their earlier status. One Rank One Pension scheme aims to grant retired armed forces personnel pension parity with those retiring now.

Indian soldiers receive disability pension equal to

Extension after extension. Zero result till now... Intention is to save culprits of 1984 riots.

— Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM

their last drawn salary for 100 per cent disability. The government recently turned it into a slab system, which, according to critics, significantly reduced their pension.

The defence ministry later asked the anomaly committee of the 7th Pay Commission to continue with the old system. In another tweet, Mr Kejriwal also attacked the Central government over the SIT investigating 1984 riots.

“Extension after extension. Zero result till now. Obviously, there is no intention (to bring justice). Intention is to save culprits of 1984 riots,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted, quoting another media report.

The media report said that the SIT set up by the home ministry has been given another extension till February 2017. The panel set up in February 2015 was initially granted six months to file report, but was later given two extensions.

— PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY Swadeshi Jagaran Manch activists burn posters of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a protest at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi on Wednesday to boycott Chinese goods .