No difference between govt and forces: Antony

New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI) Defence Minister A.K. Antony
Wednesday said there were no differences between the
government and the armed forces over the 6th Central Pay
Commission (C.P.C.) report.

His statement comes in the wake of the defence forces'
signal to its 1.5 million personnel on the "anomalies" in the
C.P.C., asking them to "be patient in the larger interest of
the Services," which was seen as an act of defiance of the
Cabinet decision to implement revised pay scales from
September 1.

"There is no difference between the government and the
Services, because they are also part of the government. Don't
read too much (into the forces' signal)," Antony told
reporters after the Defence Accounts Day function here.

Pointing out that the government had taken a decision
in the Cabinet to implement the pay commission report after
amendments, Antony said the additional burden on the exchequer
due to the changes in the approved C.P.C. is Rs 6,000 crore.

"After the decision of the Cabinet, Services' chiefs
noted some of the problems and anomalies, specifically
regarding the defence forces, which is but natural. The
government is examining it at the appropriate level.
Meanwhile, you are reading too much. It is not correct," he
said.

Stating that the armed forces had already submitted
the details for revised pay scales, the Defence Minister said
the government had issued a notification for paying adhoc
arrears to the personnel, due to the delay in calculating
their revised pay for October.

"Also, the Prime Minister has appointed a committee
headed by my senior colleague Pranab Mukherjee. So there is no
problem. As far as we are concerned, there is no difference,"
he added.

After the defence forces' decision not to accept the
"discriminatory" C.P.C., the government had acted swiftly with
Antony doing some tough talking to the Services' chiefs,
asking them to accept the revised pay scales temporarily.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also set up a high-level
ministerial committee headed by External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee last Friday to look into the defence
personnel grievances over the C.P.C.

Antony and Finance Minister P.Chidrambaram were named
as the other two members of the three-member committee.

Moreover, the government ordered release of an interim
amount as part payment of the 40 percent arrears under the
C.P.C. to be given to the defence personnel this week to
enable them to celebrate Diwali.

The rest of the 40 percent arrears would be paid to the
services in November.

The reason cited for the adhoc arrears was the delay
caused due to the late submission of the revised pay vouchers
by the armed forces.

Consequently, the 3.5 million civilian government
servants would take home their revised pay and the 40 percent
arrears under the C.P.C., while the defence personnel would
have to wait till November for their revised salaries.