Chandigarh, December 1
Bana Singh, an example of bravery and commitment to the nation, is a disappointed man owing to the shabby treatment meted out to him by the authorities concerned.

A retired honorary captain, Bana Singh, had scaled a 20,000-ft peak to capture a Pakistani post at the Siachen glacier about 20 years ago. Later, the post was named after him and he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

For setting such an example of courage, Bana Singh, is getting a petty sum of Rs 166 per month as honorarium from the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Today, Bana Singh was quoted as saying: “I am sad that I fought for the country”. Early this week, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Manohar Singh Gill had taken up the issue with union defence minister A.K. Antony. Gill had asked Antony to take care of ex-soldiers like Bana Singh who spent the prime of their lives protecting the country’s borders.

The MP urged the defence minister that Bana Singh should not only be given Rs 10,000 as pension per month but should also be given a special honorarium.

“Bana Singh is not alone.There are several other ex-servicemen in Jammu and Kashmir and some other states who are given a pittance”, Gill said while talking to The Tribune. “All of them should be identified and given their due”, he added. “It is strange that while chief ministers run after cricketers, who play for only three hours, and announce cash prizes of lakhs for them, they show little concern for soldiers who guard the country’s borders facing great difficulties”, said Gill.

Gill had also written to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in this regard.