IESM: Fast for Justice Rally twenty seventh day

Date: Monday, 12 January, 2009, 10:30 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Punjab continues to hold the battlefront. Visitors continue in stream. The Core Gp met this evening. It has been decided that unless our demand of OROP is met before that date, we will hold a large (largest so far) during second week of Feb 2008 when the Parliament session is on. Till that time the relay fast at Jantar Mantar will continue.

I will implore all IESM branches in India to hold a similar rally in Feb coinciding with the Delhi Rally. In the interim, every effort should be made to build up the tempo for the big rally. Interaction with the media, educating/ informing the public and political leaders should form part of it. An information leaflet will be prepared centrally and will be mailed shortly. This, duly translated in local language can be used as an informational tool. We must go all out in our efforts.

You may be aware, I had written a letter to the RM on 20 Dec 2008. Reproduced: Quote

Dear Hon’ble Minister,
You are aware that the Ex Servicemen are on a relay fast at Jantar Mantar since 16 Dec 2008 against non-acceptance of our demand for one-rank-one-pension. Eleven Ex-Servicemen led by an officer have been observing the fast on a 24-hour shift. However, one of our senior veterans, Sepoy Sulaiman Khan, who is 68 years old, has voluntarily converted his protest into ‘fast unto death’ since 0900 hours on 17 Dec 2008. There are others who are insisting on following his example; we have so far succeeded in restraining them. Even though you already know of the above development, as Chairman of the Ex Servicemen Movement I consider it my moral duty to officially apprise you of this. Unquote

In reply to the above letter, the MOD has called Gen Satbir and self on 14 Jan 2009 in the office of Secretary (EWS), to discuss the demand of 'One Rank One Pension'. Both of us have received identical letters from the MOD. Will keep the ESM community updated.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Dear All,
It is indeed a "D" Letter day for us at the IESM that after the 2 Former Chief's viz Admiral Arun Prakash and General Ved Malik we are now joined by Vice Admiral Harinder Singh(Retd) the present President of Navy Foundation Delhi Charter and the former C-In C Andaman and Nicobar (CINCAN) and also the ex DCNS at NHQ.

With his joining the IESM we are sure that now the retd Naval brethren would be joining the cause in large numbers. Already a good number of my Navy Seniors are enquiring the same like Adm Hitendra Singh / Cmde Anil Dhir / Cmde Satish / Cmde R Seth / Capt Deepak Sikand / Cdr Jamwal / Cdr Awasthi / Cdr V Chawla / Cdr K Raghav etc and would be joining the IESM in the next few days.

This news has pumped in fresh Oxygen to the ESM Punjab team at the Jantar Mantar holding the fort in these cold days. Please pass this on this message to all your friends in service and Civilian friends.

Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM