In a programme organised at Rajiv Bhawan on Sunday, Lieutenant General (Retd) M C Badhani formally joined the Congress party. The highly decorated officer said that impressed with the policies of Congress party and leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi he is joining the party. Speaking on the occasion, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Pritam Singh said that Congress is a democratic party which respects all religion, sects and castes and the party has also acted as a social reformer. He said that the BJP has done nothing but speaking lies during the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. The corruption and prices are on rise in the BJP ruled states. In reference to the ongoing discussion in the party on return of rebels, the PCC president said that the interests of Congressmen who stood with the party in hard times would be protected. He claimed that the party would get strengthened in the state by inclusion of Lt Gen Badhani and his supporters. Launching an attack on the Narendra Modi led Union government; the PCC President said that the NDA government has deceived the ex servicemen on the ‘One Rank one pension’ (OROP). He said that it was the UPA government led by the Congress party which had accepted the long standing demand of ex servicemen on OROP and implemented it. Singh said that the ex servicemen of the country are feeling cheated by the BJP on the issue of OROP. Rajneesh Juyal and others also joined the party along with Lt Gen Badhani.