A large number of ex-servicemen, including General rank officers, returned their medals on Sunday, to the government protesting the non-implementation of their demand for "one rank, one pension" principle.
Alleging that a "raw deal" was given to the armed forces by the Sixth Pay Commission, the ex-servicemen, who also
included Colonels, held a demonstration in New Delhi and sent their medals to President Pratibha Patil, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
They also threatened to emerge as a "potential votebank" and contest elections to teach the "politicians and bureaucrats" a fitting lesson.
"We handed over all the medals of the ex-servicemen who participated in Sunday's protest to an official of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The medals were in thousands," Lieutenant General Raj Kadyan, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said.
He termed the protest by the ex-servicemen as an "unparallelled" and "unfortunate" development in the country.
"A soldier devotes the best years of his life to the country. When he retires, his medals are his most prized possession. These are a proud record of his contribution to keeping the country safe and united," Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, who is set to return his Param Vhishst Seva Medal and other medals, said.
The former military-men said they were "forced" to come out to the streets by the successive governments to meet their
demands and get justice.
