Retd home guards seek pension

Ropar, January 23

Retired home guards sitting on a dharna for the last 19 months, demanding pension and other benefits, said they had decided to observe Republic Day as the “day of slavery” as their dharna entered 564th day here today.

State Home Guards Welfare Association (retd) president Gurdeep Singh along with others, at a press conference, said the government had failed to accept their demands even as frequent assurances were given to them by several leaders on different occasions. He said he and other retired home guards had fought a battle against terrorism in the state and many had sacrificed their lives on the line of duty. He said now that they had retired, the state government had turned a blind eye towards their plight.

He said Punjab Home Secretary had approved their case but the Finance Department was not giving its nod. — TNS