Former Chief Minister and Congress candidate from Amritsar Capt Amarinder Singh today cautioned the ex-servicemen against the war mongering rhetoric of the BJP leaders like Narendra Modi as it is the people of border areas and the families of the servicemen who have to face the brunt of a war. Besides, he said, even the common people do not remain unaffected.Addressing a largely attended rally of the ex-servicemen here today, Capt Amarinder said, nobody wants and needs the peace more than the people living in the border areas. He said, it is actually the people of the border areas who come under direct attacks from the enemy. “But why should there not be peace between India and Pakistan as it is in the interests of the both the countries particularly the people living in the border areas”, he said.Recalling his association with the army, he said, he spent three weeks in the Khemkaran Sector during 1965 War as ADC to Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh. He said, it was Gen Harbaksh Singh who refused the orders of his army chief who had asked him to move his reinforcements to Ravi. “Had we not stayed put in Amritsar, the entire area across Ravi, including Amritsar, might have been lost to Pakistan”, he said.
Having a dig at his BJP opponent Arun Jaitely who has been claiming relationship in Amritsar, he said, “you need to have Punjabi blood to claim yourself to be the true son of the soil”. He said, there was nothing wrong in Jaitely’s contesting from Amritsar but he should not lie and claim that he is a Punjabi.
Capt Amarinder also cautioned the ex-servicemen against the disinformation being spread by the BJP and the Akalis about ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme introduced by the Congress led UPA government. He said, the notification has already been issued and orders passed and very soon all the ex-servicemen will get their pension under OROP.Speaking on the occasion Lt Gen (rtd) TS Shergill recalled Capt Amarinder’s service to the nation. He pointed out, Capt Amarinder had joined the Indian army at the young age of 15 years and had taken a premature retirement. “But he rejoined the Indian army as the war broke out with Pakistan in 1965”, he pointed out, asking can Jaitley, who happens to be a lawyer from Gujarat, claim to have made any contribution to the nation.Among others who spoke on the occasion included Laly Jawandha, Raja Malwinder Singh, Col (rtd) Bhag Singh, Major Amardeep, Major Rajdeep Singh and others.