Himachal CM seeks 'one rank, one pension' for ex-servicemen

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here and pleaded the case for implementation of 'one rank, one pension' scheme for the ex-servicemen.

He said the implementation of the scheme would benefit the majority of the ex-servicemen in the state and would give them additional economic security in their old age.

The chief minister also apprised Gandhi about various developmental projects and schemes launched in the state, an official statement said.

He said the state has adopted the party's election manifesto as an official document and all the promises made in the manifesto are being implemented.

Singh apprised her about the action taken by the government on a corruption "charge sheet" submitted by the Congress, when in opposition, to President Pranab Mukherjee against the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

In the charge sheet, the Congress accused then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of extending favours to his son Anurag Thakur, a BJP MP, and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) which is controlled by him.

It had alleged that the government had provided several pieces of land to the HPCA in various parts of the state.

The Congress alleged that the government has extended favours to infrastructure group Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. in setting up hydropower and cement projects.