CHANDIGARH: The large army of 3 lakh ex-servicemen and thousands of soldiers posted in Punjab are finding it hard to swallow the state government's cow cess on liquor. They insist that liquor supplied by the canteen stores department (CSD) is already costlier in Punjab than in Haryana and Chandigarh and the cess will deprive them of their privilege of getting liquor at concessional rates.A debate has started online and the hike is being termed "criminal" and "killing on faujis". Fauji groups are planning to write protest letters to the government.Punjab had last week announced a Rs 10 levy on every bottle of IMFL and Rs 5 on every bottle of beer as 'gau sewa' cess.Lt Colonel S S Sohi (retd), president of ex-servicemen grievances cell, Mohali, said the decision is "unreasonable and illogical".Brigadier J S Arora, director, Sainik Welfare Department told TOI that imposition of the cess was the government's prerogative but he would take up the issue if representations are received from ex-servicemen.