Defence fraternity resents hike in liquor prices

CHANDIGARH: With elections round the corner, the defence fraternity in Punjab is up in arms against the hike in prices of rum and whiskey, provided to them through canteens.
According to ex-servicemen welfare associations, the Punjab government has failed to fulfill its promise to cut VAT on liquor supplied through canteen stores department (CSD) for defence personnel in the state.
On February 12, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum at Amritsar that VAT on liquor supplied to defence personnel through CSD canteens will be reduced by 2%.
After the new excise policy in the state, defence personnel were expecting reduction in liquor rates but in the new financial year, rum in CSD canteens is costlier by Rs 10 per bottle while whiskey (depending on the brand) has witnessed a rise of Rs 40 to Rs 50 per bottle.
As per rules, a retired commissioned officer is entitled for 10 bottles, junior commissioned officer (JCO) six bottles while a jawan gets four bottles of liquor every month from the CSD canteen.
The hike in liquor rates has affected many in the state, which has around three lakh ex-servicemen and thousands of soldiers posted in various cantonments.
Questioning the state government's intentions, Lt Col (retired) S S Sohi, president of Ex-servicemen Grievances Cell, Mohali, which has submitted a representation to the state seeking implementation of CM's February 12 announcement, asked why false promises were made by the state government if it was not interested in fulfilling it.
"Neglect of small issues related to the privileges of defence fraternity by the state reflects that the state is least bothered about the soldiers, which is not a strong vote bank for them," Sohi added.
President of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab chapter) Brigadier K S Kahlon said that it amounts to betrayal by the state as it had announced publicly to reduce VAT on CSD items.