Report

Ex-Servicemen Flay Vajpayee

Capt. Praveen Davar (center) and Capt. Mahender Mathur (second from right in 2nd row) alongwith Ex-servicemen at Pabupura, Jodhpur.

The Ex-Servicemen Cell kicked off the election campaign in Rajasthan by organising a largely attended meeting of Ex-Servicemen in Pabupura, near Jodhpur on April 13, 2003. The meeting was organised by the Chairman of Rajasthan PCC Ex-Servicemen Cell Capt. Mahender Mathur and attended, amongst others, by Wing Comdr. Anil Mathur Kirti Chakra, Wg. Comdr. Bhattacharya, Sqn. Leader Jangir, Comdt. K.K. Rajpurohit, Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Babu Khan, Om Prakash Arya and Bhanwar Lal Naik, Secretary, RPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell.

Inaugurating the function, Capt. Praveen Davar, Secretary, AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell, appealed to the Ex-Servicemen to gear themselves to combat communalism which will be fanned by the BJP and the Sangh Parivar as the election draws nearer. He cited the example of Ex-Servicemen in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Himachal in strengthening the Congress and their noteworthy contribution in the victory of the party in these states. Capt. Davar hailed the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his clean image and achievements in the development of Rajasthan and in effectively handling the drought situation. Capt. Mahender Mathur appealed to the Ex-Servicemen to elect only clean and honest candidates during the election. He also appealed to the party high command to field only such candidates who have no corruption charges against them. Leaflets listing qualities of a good candidate were released at the meeting.

The Chairman of AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Lt. Gen. MM Lakhera and Capt. Praveen Davar attended a convention of Ex-Servicemen in Sikar on April 27, 2003. The meeting organised by the RPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell was attended, besides Capt. Mahender Mathur, by the President DCC and senior Congress leaders of the District as also Chiefs of the District Youth Congress and Seva Dal. Inaugurating the convention, Lt. Gen. Lakhera gave details of various new welfare schemes for Ex-Servicemen, especially Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. He also clarified doubts in the minds of Ex-Servicemen regarding one rank one pension. Gen. Lakhera appealed to the Ex-Servicemen to rise above feelings of caste and community and motivate other Ex-Servicemen to join the Congress. Capt. Praveen Davar complimented the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot for arresting Praveen Togadia, a step which he said, was hailed all over the country. He expressed his confidence that the Congress will return with massive majority in the state as the Chief Minister had undertaken gigantic steps for the development of Rajasthan. Similar sentiments were expressed by other speakers, including Capt. Mahender Mathur, who assured complete cooperation of his Cell in the forthcoming elections. The DCC president highlighted the various achievements of the Ashok Gehlot government in the last five years.

Both the Chairman and Secretary, AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell along with Col. Bharat Singh, Chairman, UPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell attended a welfare meeting of Ex-Servicemen organised by Lt. Col. VC Sharma and Maj. SC Garg in Meerut on April 28, 2003. A large number of war widows present in the meeting were honoured by the Chairman, AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell and Shri Tara Chand Shastri, Treasurer, UPCC.

Nearly 400 Ex-Servicemen from Mhow and Indore attended a District level convention of Ex-Servicemen which was inaugurated by Capt. Praveen Davar with Lt. Gen. SL Malhotra, former DG, NCC as the Chief Guest. Smt. Vidya Panwar was the Chief Guest in the function which was well organised by Lt. Gen. Keshav Gupta, Vice-Chairman, MPCC Ex-Servicemen Cell. Capt Praveen Davar made a scathing attack on the Vajpayee government for corruption, incompetence and failure on all fronts - economic, political and international. He announced the formation of a committee under Gen. SL Malhotra, to prepare Ex-Servicemen welfare points to be submitted to the RPCC for inclusion in the Congress poll manifesto. While Lt. Col. Bharat Singh organised a welfare meeting of Ex-Servicemen in Ballia, the Chairman, DCC Ex-Servicemen Cell, Nawanshahar (Punjab) Lt. Col. Jernail Singh held a similar meeting in the district during the month.