Newmai News Network Aizawl | June 14 Hundreds of ex-servicemen and their relatives under the aegis of Mizoram Ex-Service League (MESL) took out a protest rally in Aizawl on Thursday against the government decision to create Director General (DG) post under Mizoram Home Guard and Civil Defence which can be held only by Mizoram Police Service (MPS) officer. Addressing the protest rally, MESL president, Col. John Zama said they strongly opposed the government’s plan to create the DG post under Mizoram Home Guard and Civil Defence for MPS officer. According to him, Mizoram Home Guard was started by 10 retired army personnel in 1964. He added that the home guard is currently headed by a Commandant General cum Additional Director, which is enough for the workers. “We don’t want Mizoram Police Service (MPS) office to control us. We don’t want the home guard to be transferred in the hands of Mizoram police,” he said. Zama then said that the Mizoram government had made decision in August 2014 to create the DG post in the home guard in violation of Mizoram Home Guards Act, 1985, which he alleged, was an insult to MESL and Mizoram Home Guard Service Association (MRHGSA). "On the appeal of the MRHGSA, the Gauhati High Court later over ruled the decision on the ground that the state government can’t create a post higher than Commandant General", Zama added. Zama then alleged that the state government was giving undue favour to Mizoram police by planning to create the DG post for MPS officer. “We want the government to be impartial in treating its employees and give due respect to ex-servicemen,” he said. Quoting the reported Ministry of Home Affairs' directive, Zama said that a state level home guard organization should be headed by a Commandant General, while head of the home guard in the entire country is to be called Director General. Meanwhile, the protesters also demanded the state government to implement 10 percent job reservation for ex-servicemen in group ‘C’ post and 20 percent in group ‘D’ post. They also demanded the government to raise monthly stipend for World War-II veterans and exempt all ex-servicemen from property tax under Aizawl Municipal Corporation. MESL leader, Major Thangkima said there are at present 1070 employees under Mizoram Home Guard and 72 war veterans and their widows numbering about 491. He said that the war veterans at present receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,200, while their widows received Rs 1000. According to the leaders, as per the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendation, the Centre has directed all state governments to raise monthly stipend from Rs 6,000 to 10,000. “The government has neither implemented job reservation for the ex-servicemen not increase pay for war veterans,” he alleged. Meanwhile, the Mizoram Departmental Officers Association (MDOA) also extended support to ex-servicemen.