Ex-servicemen return 7,500 gallantry medals over pension spat

June 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil Thursday said that the cabinet committee formed to look into the long standing 'one rank one pension' demand of armed forces veterans will submit its report by the end of June. The welfare of ex-servicemen will continue to be accorded high priority.

May 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Shaken by the large numbers of ex-servicemen returning their medals to protest the government's rejection of their demand for one-rank-one-pension, a high level committee has been formed under Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar to examine the extent to which this could be achieved.

April 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Retired personnel of Indian defence services on Sunday staged a massive protest rally here, to express their anguish over Central Government's delay over their long-pending demand for 'One Rank-One Pension'. Ex-servicemen of varying ranks also returned their medals to the government.

March 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - National Democratic Alliance (NDA) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, who has assured retired soldiers that he will fulfil their 'one rank, one pension' demand, met former defence personnel here Thursday and heard their grievances.

March 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - National Democratic Alliance (NDA) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, who has assured retired soldiers that he will fulfill their 'one rank one pension' demand, will meet the former defence personnel here later Thursday to hear their grievances.

March 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani, on Monday acknowledged the need of implementation of one-rank one-pension for ex-defence servicemen. "Armed forces are a category apart.

March 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Monday held out a promise that his party would implement the 'One Rank One Pension' policy for ex-servicemen if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

March 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Continuing their long-running fight for 'one rank, one pension', ex-soldiers have met President Pratibha Patil, the supreme commander of the armed forces, and reiterated their demand for pension parity. A seven-member delegation of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) submitted a memorandum in this regard to Patil late Monday evening.

February 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - A delegation of ex-soldiers Saturday marched to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and returned over 3,000 gallantry and meritorious service medals to protest the rejection of their demand for 'one rank one pension' - and complained that President Pratibha Patil, the supreme commander of the armed forces, 'did not have time to meet us'. Patil, the supreme commander of the armed forces, did not personally receive the medals, which were collected by presidential palace officials.

February 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Around 300 retired servicemen gathered for a protest here Saturday demanding 'equal pension for each rank'. The ex-servicemen from the three defence forces held a protest at the Jantar Mantar and collected their gallantry medals, which they plan to hand over to President Pratibha Patil.

February 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Disillusioned with the system, a former naval officer Monday filed an application under Right to Information (RTI) Act asking the government on what basis was the demand for 'one rank one pension' overlooked. 'In 2008, the defence minister in a written reply to a question told parliament that the government has not found acceptable the demand of ex-servicemen for one rank one pension.

February 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - More than 300 retired soldiers of varying ranks Sunday marched to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and returned medals won in combat and for distinguished service as they sought equal pension for each rank. The veterans were among the thousands who had gathered earlier in the day at the Jantar Mantar observatory in the heart of the capital for a protest that some said marked a black day for the Indian armed forces.

January 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi Police have received 15 medals, including three President's Police Medals, for distinguished services as well as three gallantry awards. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amulya Kumar Patnaik, JCP (Southern Range) Ajay Kashyap and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) L.N Rao are among the recepients of the President's Police Medal on the occasion of Republic Day Monday.

January 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil has approved 428 gallantry and other defence decorations, including nine posthumous Ashok Chakras and 13 Kirti Chakras to armed forces personnel and others on the occasion of the country's 60th Republic Day, it was announced Sunday. Patil will Monday present 11 Ashok Chakras, the highest gallantry award in peacetime, including two announced on Aug 15, 2008 for Assistant Commandant Pramod Kumar Satapathy of the Orissa Armed Police (posthumous), and R.P.

January 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil has approved the award of the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award in peacetime, to 9 security personnel who laid down their lives fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai and New Delhi. These are part of the 428 gallantry and other defence decorations to armed forces personnel and others on the occasion of the country's 60th Republic Day, it was announced Sunday.