Defence brotherhood to boycott I-day celebrations

MOHALI: The ''Defence Brotherhood'' and representatives of various other organisations of ex-servicemen have called on all their brethren working in various advisory boards of the government to quit en bloc against the government''s decision to retain sales tax on select items sold through the CSD.
It has also asked the ex-servicemen to boycott the Government''s Independence day celebrations.
In a news conference on Thursday, the brotherhood strongly condemned the latest move of the Punjab govt to retain sales tax on ''selected items'' like liquor, cars, scooters, fridges washing machines and electronic/electrical goods, etc which affect the savings of the Defence personnel.
Members expressed relief at the government''s decision to partially roll back taxes imposed on CSD items. But it has once again raked up the issue of ''izzat'' (self respect of the soldiers). President of the brotherhood, Brigadier Harwant Singh said that on the assumption that some of these items may find their way to civilians, the government had blacklisted the entire Defence Brotherhood as culprits for the acts of a few black sheep.
Taking offence at the attitude of the Punjab government which did not even apprise the ex-servicemen''s Advisory Committee of the imposition of taxes, the brotherhood has appealed to all ex-servicemen nominated as members of the committee, sainik welfare boards and other organisations to quit until the tax is rolled back. It also demanded that the ex-servicemen’s cell of the ruling party should disband.
The brotherhood also appealed to all ex-servicemen to disassociate themselves from the Punjab govt in the celebration of Independence Day and future functions and celebrate them in a befitting way on their own.
"The soldiers do not want to adopt the agitationist approach but the callous and uncaring bureaucracy has already forced us to do so. If the taxes are not withdrawn completely, we will intensify our just struggle," warned the members of the brotherhood.