Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressing the ‘Jai Hind Sabha’ in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that no excise duty would be levied on army canteens in Karnataka. He said all steps would be taken for the welfare of retired soldiers.

Speaking at Jai Hind Sabha, a programme organised in honour of the Indian armed forces and to felicitate retired military personnel in Bengaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah said soldiers, farmers, doctors, and teachers are as revered as one’s own parents.

He praised the legacy of Indian soldiers and said soldiers dedicate themselves to national defence with a spirit of sacrifice.

Speaking after felicitating senior army officers, ex-servicemen, and the families of martyred soldiers, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the government was considering establishing a corporation for the welfare ex-servicemen in the State. The proposal would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting before a decision is made, he said.

More than a thousand senior army officers and ex-servicemen participated in the event organised by the Congress.