SCPC: ESM Press Conference

INDIAN EX- SERVICEMEN MOVEMENT AGAINST INJUSTICE TO DEFENCE FORCES: 6TH PAY COMMISSION

Dear Esteemed Members of the Press,

1. This is to remind all our members of the Press regarding the Press Conference on 03 Oct 08 at 12 'O' Clock Noon at Press Club of India New Delhi in connection with the future action plans to get Justice For Defence Services.

2. The Govt has adopted delay tactics by constituting a committee to go into the demands of the Defence Services and has unfairly criticized the three Chiefs for their refusal to accept the 6th CPC award. This is an issue of great National importance and the assistance of media both Electronic & Print is essential to inform the people of India the magnitude of the Injustices being done to the Defence Forces and their repercussions.

3. You are therefore, requested to attend the press Conference and cover the event extensively in the interest of the Nation.
With Kind Regards,
Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement (IESM)

Comments:
Diatribes in the media trying to teach the services the concept of discipline or the security classification for communication- apparently by those who have flouted every rule of fair-play seem outrageous & outlandish to say the least. They have only brought ignominy to the government which has to soon go in election mode. It is not merely about pushing down the Lt Cols or reducing the pension of PBOR's in anticipation which is in future indefinite tense. Most disturbing is loss of faith which our country can ill afford. While Dr Manmohan Singh has done so well in clinching the nuclear deal- he has to defuse the confrontation bomb ticking at home. He must find out who all have been behind this shameful misadventure. For the ex servicemen at least – showing Chiefs in poor light is disturbing & unacceptable. It would be in order to have a more understanding Raksha Mantri who can come up to the expectations of the nation (As evident from the NDTV debate) & is able to control those Bureaucrats who are out on rampage.
Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd)

It is not money alone. The joint communication made by the three Service Chiefs, to the Prime Minister to withhold the implementation of the 6th Pay commission for the armed forces, till their parity with civilian counterparts is restored, should not be taken so lightly. The 'anti-services bureaucracy' in India have systematically brought down the status of the defence officers, ever since our independence, with their aim to make the men in uniform as subordinates to the babus. Knowing fully well the role of the armed forces , the present shortage of officers and their morale crisis, why the bureaucracy and the politicians are still making concerted efforts to depress the status of the military officers? Now the entire population of Service Officers and ex- servicemen are so up set over the gross anomalies deliberately created by the pay commission. The Finance Ministry, while denying the deserved privileges to the service officers, must have forgotten the extent of damage it can inflict on the country's security system. A demoralized army will be a liability to the nation rather than a strength. Even though the Defence Minister has understood the gravity of the situation, unfortunately he has not been able to convince the government. The officers are not asking just money but to stop the steady lowering of inter se status vis-a-vis the civilian counterparts. Let our leaders understand that such lowering of status and discrimination is unacceptable to the defence officers. Equations need to be corrected and restored with an immediacy before the issue becomes unmanageable.
Major Mathew Oommen (Retd)