Uttar Pradesh CM Honors Veterans at Reunion Ceremony in Meerut

Meerut, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the ‘Ex-Servicemen Reunion Ceremony’ in Meerut on November 14, 2026. In a post on social media platform X, he expressed gratitude towards the state’s 519,000 former soldiers and their families. He emphasized that this vast military family, comprising around 1.5 to 2 million people, symbolizes the nation’s strength and glorious traditions.

Adityanath noted that approximately 60,000 soldiers retire each year in India, with 10,000 to 12,000 of them hailing from Uttar Pradesh. This statistic underscores the state’s significant contribution to national defense. He criticized previous governments for delaying the ‘One Rank-One Pension’ scheme, stating that honoring soldiers and the families of martyrs was not a priority for them.

The Chief Minister asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the new India places utmost importance on respecting and empowering its soldiers. He highlighted various initiatives, including the successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the development of the UP Defense Corridor, which positions Uttar Pradesh as a new hub for defense self-reliance.

Adityanath also mentioned the double-engine government’s concrete measures, such as providing ₹50 lakh in ex-gratia to families of martyrs, offering government jobs to dependents, and reserving 20% of positions in the UP Police for Agniveers, along with 5% reservation for Group ‘C’ positions. Over 31,700 former soldiers have also found employment through these efforts. He concluded by affirming that honoring soldiers, supporting martyr families, and ensuring the welfare of veterans is a national commitment.