REPORT

Vajpayee A Weak PM : Ex-Servicemen

Sgt. D.S Tewari, JWO Lala Ram Shukla, Capt. Praveen Davar and COL Bharat Singh at a meeting of UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell in Lucknow.

The success of Congress in Himachal, in which Ex-Servicemen made a noteworthy contribution, boosted the morale of the Ex-Servicemen Cell. The month commenced with the meeting of State office-bearers and District presidents of Eastern and Central U.P. in Lucknow on March 10, which was organised by the Chairman of UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Col. Bharat Singh. The meeting was organised to suggest remedial measures to overcome the shortcoming in the Cell as well as to finalise the schedule for meetings to be held till the year end.

Capt. Praveen Davar, Secretary, AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell, addressed the office-bearers and District Chairmen of Ex-Servicemen Cell and acquainted them with the successful campaign conducted in Himachal Pradesh by the AICC and HPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell. The meetings of Ex-Servicemen in Himachal Pradesh, he explained, was successful for two reasons - (a) the HPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell had Block presidents in place before the campaign was launched and (b) the Ex-Servicemen Cell decided to concentrate solely in areas where the density of Ex-Servicemen was high. Capt. Davar advised the UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell to organise themselves similarly and concentrate their efforts in Ex-servicemen dominated areas in order to ensure that there is no wastage of efforts. Interviewed by the electronic media, Capt. Davar made a scathing attack on Vajpayee-led NDA government which according to him, had exceeded the limits of corruption, incompetence and opportunism. The Ex-Servicemen, in particular, will never forget the Tehelka scam and the coffin scandal. He also said that the unprecedented corruption and the deteriorating economy was due to the country being headed by a weak Prime Minister who has lost control over the reins of his administration. Col. Bharat Singh, Chairman of UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell condemned the Mayawati government whose callous attitude towards Ex-servicemen and weaker sections was deplorable. Amongst others who spoke were JWO Lala Ram Shukla, Sgt. B.S. Tiwari, Sub. Amarnath Mishra, besides all the district Chairmen. Col Bharat Singh desired that there should be greater cooperation from the PCC in regard to the administrative requirements of the Cell.

Capt. Davar attended a re-union of Ex-Servicemen in Chandigarh on March, 03. Col. Zorawar Singh, Chairman, Punjab PCC Ex-Servicemen Cell and Lt. Col. Bhupinder Pal Singh, Haryana PCC Ex-Servicemen Cell also attended the large gathering of ex-Army officers from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. They explained why Congress should be the natural choice of Ex-Servicemen wanting to join active politics. Most of the Ex-Servicemen and their spouses found the reasoning of Congress leaders quite convincing. They also complimented the Congress leaders for their efforts to raise the dignity of Ex-Servicemen.

The Chairman of AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera and Capt. Praveen Davar visited Jaipur on March 24 and addressed a meeting of Rajasthan Ex-Servicemen Cell, State office-bearers and District presidents which was organised by RPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell Chairman, Capt. Mahender Mathur. In view of the forthcoming Assembly election in Rajasthan, it was decided to finalise the schedule for district level ex-servicemen meetings in Rajasthan from April to October, followed by a State convention in Jaipur / Jodhpur.