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Created: 25 April 2020

JAMMU: The decision of the central government to freeze the payment of three installments of dearness allowance and dearness relief of all central government employees and pensioners including the defence forces in view of the prevailing situation of nation- wide pandemic has been welcome across the board by the serving and retired fraternity of the armed forces stated Brig Veteran Anil Gupta, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party and a senior veteran.

“The moment a soldier takes the oath before induction into the Indian Armed Forces he pledges his life for the sake of his/her country. Temporary monetary loss for a national cause is hardly any sacrifice when he/she is prepared for the Supreme Sacrifice,” asserted Brig Gupta. All the major ex-servicemen organisations like the Indian Ex-servicemen League (IESL) including JKESL, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) and individual veterans have not only supported the decision of the government but also have offered their services to the government to supplement the national effort of corona frontline warriors. The veterans always feel comfortable on the front whenever the nation needs them asserted Brig Gupta.

“The low-level thinking of senior congress leadership is reflected in the statement of its national spokesperson who has dubbed the decision as insensitive and inhumane,” stated Brig Gupta. It is very unfortunate that the Congress party is indulging in petty politics rather than cooperating with the government in this hour of national crisis. Macro financial management is the prerogative of the government and decisions taken by it in national interest need to be supported rather than politicised stated Brig Gupta. The nation trusts the Modi government because of its transparency and honesty of purpose.

The government has always upheld “Nation First” in all the major decisions taken by it so far. Referring to the Congress demand of cutting down the government’s wasteful expenditure, Brig Gupta said that the government is the best judge to decide that and selective criticism by the Congress party is not going to deter the government from taking bold and harsher decisions, if needed in national interest.

 The efficient monitoring and timely actions of the government have enabled to keep under check the spread of the deadly pandemic and the nation today is well under its way to flatten the curve of corona positive cases. The various economic packages announced by the government to cater for different sectors of economy including the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyanYojana has helped the nation to sustain the continued lockdown. In keeping with the PM’s call of JaanbhiJahaanbhi, the government has already eased many restrictions to reactivate the economy. It is the Congress propaganda which is highly “misconceived” rather than the government policies and priorities to fight coronavirus retorted Brig Gupta.