Guj: Ex-servicemen hold rally, demand martyr compensation hike

Hundreds of ex-servicemen from Gujarat and their kin held a rally in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Monday to demand strict implementation of reservations for them in government jobs as well as higher compensation for families of martyrs. The ex-servicemen, who have 14 demands, are on a sit-in protest at Shahid Smarak in Shahibaug area since Sunday and also held a car rally till the state secretariat complex in Gandhinagar on Monday.

They said the BJP government in Gujarat should emulate the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi and pay Rs 1 crore as compensation to the kin of soldiers who died in the line of duty.

"While the AAP government in Delhi is giving Rs 1 crore to kin of martyrs, the Gujarat government provides only Rs 1 lakh. We want the BJP government here to increase the compensation to Rs 1 crore. The kin of martyrs should also be given pension," said Jitendra Nimavat, president of Gujarat Ex Armymen Union.

"We also demand strict implementation of the policy of reservations in government jobs for retired army personnel. The Gujarat government has agreed to meet us in the afternoon to find solutions," he added.

Nimavat exuded confidence the Vijay Rupani government will accept all 14 of their demands. Key demands include building a state-level martyr's memorial in Gandhinagar, providing agricultural land to retired army men as per rules, no separate liquor permit, giving priority in issuing or renewing gun licences, removing contract system in jobs offered to former army men as well as quota for their children in higher education.