The Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Evam Ardh Sainik Sangathan (PSEASS) have appealed to servicemen and their families of the State to vote for the Congress in Haridwar, Almora and Nainital lok Sabha constituency while it opposes the Congress candidates from Garhwal and Tehri lok Sabha constituencies. The president of the organisation, lt Col (Retd) Ganga Singh Rawat, informed this to the media person here on Wednesday.
Blaming the former chief minister, Vijay Bahuguna, for destroying the framework of soldiers’ welfare in the State, he said that to protect a corrupt official, Bahuguna shifted Surendra Singh Negi from the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Soldier Welfare Board and appointed Harak Singh Rawat. Rawat alleged that Harak Singh Rawat and this official colluded has made UPNl a playground of rampant corruption.
He said that Bahuguna did not heed to the reports of corruption in UPNl and did not react even after the organisation took out a huge rally on March 2013. He said that the PSEASS has normally supported the Congress party in the elections as the party is always sympathetic to the cause of welfare of Soldiers and their families.
On the issue of one rank one pension, he said that the Soldier cell of the State Congress party is engaged in misinformation campaign on the issue as a formal ordinance is yet to be promulgated.