Farmers Movement Archive

Retd IAF officer returns Commendation Medal in support of farmers

LUDHIANA: Upset with the farmers’ agitation being tagged as “China and Pakistan sponsored” and “questions” being raised on their “patriotism”, a retired warrant officer of Indian Air Force (IAF) has returned his prestigious medal. Seventy-six years old Gurtek Singh Virk has participated in 1965 and 1971 wars against the Pakistan before retiring in 1993. The retired officer, who lives in BRS Nagar area of Ludhiana, told TOI that though he had returned majority of the 13 awards he had got during his service in Air Force (from 1963 to 1993) during OROP issue, he also returned the prestigious Commendation Medal awarded to him by Chief of Air Staff in 1990s. He added that the award is given to a selected few officers for their dedicated and selfless services in IAF. “Since I was unwell and I am unable to travel, so with deep pain I gave the medal to members of Ex-servicemen Welfare Society, whose members went to Singhu border to support farmers’ agitation, and asked them to return the hard-earned medal to President of India in Delhi who is Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,” said the retired officer. “It is painful that the government representative is saying this agitation is China and Pakistan sponsored. If they have proof, why don’t they file a case and whoever is the culprit should be punished, instead casting aspersions over our patriotism. We fully support the agitation and I want that these laws should be repealed,” added the retired IAF officer.

The Times of India

2020-12-25

Ludhiana