Punjab Flayed Over Property Tax For Paramilitary Forces Personnel

The retired officers of the paramilitary forces on Friday have condemned the decision of the Punjab Government and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for not extending the benefit of exemption of property tax to personnel of the forces.

The decision was taken in the annual general body meeting of the Paramilitary Forces Retired Officers’ Association on Friday at BSF Officers’ Mess, Mohali. More than 60 officers from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Ambala, Patiala and other neighbouring districts attended the meeting. Amarjit Singh Sidhu (IGP, CRPF Retd), president of the association said, members of the association condemned the decision of Punjab Government and UT Municipal Corporation and Administration for not extending the benefit of exemption of property tax to the personnel of PMFs residing in Punjab and Chandigarh. He said this had happened despite Government of India, Ministry of Home orders to all States and UT’s that keeping in view the sacrifices of the personnel of paramilitary forces, at par with Defence forces, all States and UTs should give all benefits to PMFs personnel, serving or retired, at par with the benefits given to Defence personnel.

He said, more personnel of paramilitary forces were sacrificing their lives in the maintenance of security on the borders dealing with the insurgents, terrorists and Maoists all over the country. BSF is guarding the borders of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, J&K, Tripura and borders with Bangladesh. ITBP is guarding the borders with Tibet, SSB is guarding the borders with Nepal, Assam Rifles is guarding the borders of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, CRPF is dealing with the internal security, maintenance of law and order, fighting the insurgent in J&K, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura, and Naxals in 11 States of the country. CISF is looking the security of all the airports, important Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and other industrial units. Coastal Guards are guarding the entire coastal borders in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. All personnel of PMFs irrespective of the rank should also be given benefit of One Rank One Pension at par with the Defence personnel, the association demanded.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/punjab-flayed-over-property-tax-for-defence-personnel.html