SCPC: Future Course of Action

Esteemed Veterans,

Some suggestions for for future course of action as regards the on going agitation against Recommendations made by the 6th Pay Commission are given below.

OVERALL LEADER. The movement needs an over all leader, who is an icon and has an aura amongst the veterans and if possible amongst the people at large. He has to be a War Veteran of repute and decorated 3 Star General, whose word will be followed. A Steering Committee can work out plan of action but then get it ratified by Advisory Group as suggested by Gen Oberoi but Headed by a LEADER as suggested above. Some names come to mind. Lt Gen Zoru Bakshi, MVC, VRc, PVSM, VSM. He is from 5 GR; formerly FF and lives in Delhi. Very unassuming and likable. Then we have Lt Gen RS Dayal, MVC, former Lt Governor, is respected by civilians too. He lives in Panchkula and has been attending all the protest meetings. There are some more whose names can be suggested by others. The comparatively younger lot in the leadership role should bring in these Icons to head the movement and bring in Unity, which is lacking at present.

2. JCOs OTHER RANKS REPRESENTATION. I am of the view that we should get them in the forefront. though let us be careful in selecting those who have not many eggs to grind. Our movement must seem to be more for the PBOR and not so much for Officers and that also of higher ranks.

3. AIM OF THE MOVEMENT. Selection and Maintenance of aim is a key principle of war. Some effort has been made to work out objectives for the movement but the required clarity is still not there. LET US NOT BE INFLUENCED OVERLY BY SOME COLLEAGUES WHO WRITE INFLAMMATORY EMAILS. Sense of balance, propriety must prevail and passions should not be made to rise. One needs to be calm to lead such agitations.

4. The immediate aim has to be the Pay Commission Report. WE CANNOT FIGHT THE ESTABLISHMENT (POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRACY). We will always lose. Only way to fight them is to have military rule and we have seen what military rule has done in our neighboring countries. So let us select aim/ objective for the agitation calmly and I would suggest let this be just the Pay Commission Report.

5. FIGHTING FOR THOSE IN SERVICE. It will be against all norms of discipline and propriety for veterans to fight for rights of those serving. This is just not done, gentlemen. We do not want to destroy the very fabric of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force by doing so. It is the job of the respective Chiefs to take care of those serving under them (and also Veterans). Those who are Chiefs today have been groomed by us and have imbibed legacies good or bad left by us. They are quite capable of fighting their battles with the Bureaucracy to the extent Indian milieu permits. Let us leave alone those who have the privilege to wear the Uniform today.

6. CULTIVATE THE OPPOSITION. Let us cultivate the Opposition. The Communist Parties, BJP and others. Let us not forget Lalu Parsad!! He can be effective even in his jocular ways.

7. ASKING QUESTIONS IN THE PARLIAMENT. One of the well known ways to high light any problem at the National level is to ensure that questions are asked in the Parliament on the subject. We should formulate appropriate questions and then ask Members of Parliament to raise these.

8. USE OF ACT ON RIGHT TO INFORMATION. The biggest insult heaped on the Services is non inclusion of a representative in Uniform in the Pay Commission, for which the Chiefs have requested time and again. We should ask for details how this request was not acceded to, based on Right to Information Act and then nail those who managed to scuttle this.

9. MEETING Mrs SONIA GANDHI. I have suggested this a number of times already. She is Political Leader of UPA Government Political Parties. and still wields great power and authority. A largish delegation of War Veterans and War Wounded should meet her and explain to her the whole issue. Elections are nearing and she would do any thing to get favorable press.

Kind regards to each and everyone.
Sincerely,
Harbhajan Singh
Lt Gen (Retd) PVSM
Signal Officer-in-Chief 1988-91