ગુજરાતી
English
True Patriots: 50,000 Ex-Soldiers Left Destitute
Modi stopped giving land since 2006
Ahmedabad, January 20, 2026
There are 70,000 ex-soldiers in Gujarat. After retiring from the army, the government used to give them 16 acres of land for their livelihood. But since 2006, Narendra Modi has stopped giving such land.
Since the Modi government implemented stricter rules regarding land allocation, 50,000 ex-soldiers have not received land.
Of the 70,000 who were given land before 2006, 20,000 have received their land. But there are many among them whose land has not been given by the government. There are 300-400 who have not received possession, or have been allotted land but not given possession.
There is a rule that the government should provide jobs to those who do not want land. But since stricter rules have been implemented, they don’t get land.
The family of a soldier from Panchmahal district who was martyred in the Kargil war was given land, but not possession; the organization had given them possession of the land.
Ex-servicemen in Ahmedabad were given shops. A minister came, inaugurated the shops, and gave them the keys. The keys were later taken back. To this day, the shops have not been given to them.
Sometimes, according to the reservation for ex-servicemen in state government jobs, 1 percent is given for Class 1 and 2, 10 percent for Class 3, and 20 percent for Class 4. There are about 10,000 young ex-servicemen who could get jobs. But no more than 50 ex-servicemen get jobs in a year.
There are 40,000 who do not get land or jobs under the ex-servicemen reservation. Currently, there were 400 vacancies for reservation in the police force. But only 20 have been selected. Following the protests over demands in 2022, another protest over the same demands was held in September 2025. A lathi charge (baton charge) ensued. Rallies were held in every district.
Ex-servicemen and the Gujarat Ex-Servicemen Organization launched a movement called ‘Operation Anamat’. The ex-servicemen protested against changes in the job reservation law for ex-servicemen, demanding a 10% reservation. Retired soldiers are facing difficulties with the 40% passing marks requirement. They demanded that the changes to minimum marks and salary protection be reversed and that they receive the benefits they were previously entitled to. The protest lasted 9 days, with 2,000 retired soldiers participating.
2022
5 demands were accepted:
1. Providing ₹1 crore in assistance to the family of a martyred soldier.
2. Providing ₹5,000 in educational assistance to the children of a martyred soldier.
3. Providing ₹500 in monthly assistance (increased from ₹5,000).
4. Providing ₹2.5 lakh in financial assistance or ₹5,000 in monthly assistance in the case of a disabled soldier.
5. Providing ₹5 lakh in assistance to the parents of an unmarried martyred soldier.
Three demands have been fulfilled:
Providing ₹1 crore to the families of martyrs, increasing the number of liquor licenses, and increasing the number of gallantry awards.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were to form a high-level committee of secretaries to discuss the remaining demands, in addition to relief for the families of martyred soldiers and an increase in gallantry awards.
Regarding the demand for land, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that 16 acres of land are allocated to ex-servicemen from Santhani so that they can support their families, but this land has not been provided for 20 years.
18 pending demands of ex-servicemen:
– Direct appointment of ex-servicemen by the government, eliminating the contract system.
– Continuous re-employment of army personnel should be considered, and salary protection should be ensured.
– The 5-year fixed salary system in Gujarat government service should be abolished.
– Appointment to government jobs should be given near their homes.
– A government job should be given to the son or a family member of a martyred soldier. – The reservation given to ex-servicemen in Class-1 and Class-4 appointments should be strictly implemented.
– The family of the martyr should be given a pension by the state government.
– The family of the martyred soldier should be given financial assistance of ₹1 crore by the state government.
– A state-level martyr memorial and rest house should be built in Gandhinagar.
– Agricultural land should be provided for the family’s livelihood.
– Plots of land should be given for housing.
– The permit issued by the Indian Army for liquor should remain valid.
– Arms licenses should be renewed and new licenses should be issued.
– Social issues should be given priority.
– Reservation should be provided for children in higher education.
– The state government should bear the full cost of the children’s education.
– Ex-servicemen should be exempted from business tax.
When the matter remained unresolved, 100 ex-servicemen, including Jitendra Nimavat, President of the Maji Sainik Seva Foundation Gujarat, submitted their resignations to Gujarat State BJP President C.R. Patil. (Google translation from Gujarati)
