Thrissur: Indian ex-services league president Brig Mohinder Singh on June 2 alleged that though over Rs 500 crore was collected as Kargil war fund, only Rs 139 crore was given to the Army.

Singh said that the remaining Rs 361 crore was annexed with the Prime Minister's relief fund.

He stressed the need for constituting a Parliamentary committee representing Opposition parties also to look into the matter and get back the rest of the amount for the soldiers' relief and developmental activities.

He said discrepancies in the pension disbursement to ex-servicemen should be removed and the restriction of 33 years of service for 50 per cent pension should also be dispensed with.

Singh urged the Kerala government to give reservation for ex-servicemen in appointments as was done in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, he said, adding the state government should also exempt ex-servicemen from payment of house tax in adherence with the order issued by the Central government in this regard.

If government did not concede to the just demands of ex-servicemen, the league would resort to direct action including gheraoing Parliament, Singh added.

PTI