Dear Colleagues,
Palwal/ Faridabad (Haryana) contingent has taken charge of the Jantar Mantar venue.
Medals Depositing on 14 March 2009
The next instalment of medals will be deposited on 14 March 2009. A letter written to the President is attached. We need to ensure that the number of medals deposited that day far exceeds the earlier instalments.
Mass Contact
All State/District conveners must start visiting their respective areas to apprise the ESM of what the IESM has been doing. The misinformation spread by the government (as was done by Mr Manish Tewari during the TV programme) that the officers are the only ones affected and that the PBOR are fine, must be countered. The hard fact is that the Sepoy is the hardest hit with a pre 1996 Sepoy pensioner getting 82% lower pension than his post 1.1.2006 counterpart. The difference in other ranks is relatively lower.
Karan Thapar’s TV Programme
I would like to place on record my deep appreciation for Veteran Maj Gen Subhash Bindra who played the main anchor role in organising the TV programme with Karan Thapar (aired 19th and 23rd Feb). After he had done the leg work it started with a telephone conference on 28 Jan among all of us, including Karan. Thank you Subhash. It is learnt through different sources that on Karan Thapar’s TV programme ‘India Tonight’, Mr Manish Tewari made legally incorrect statements. On this the emails exchanged between Karan and me are reproduced below:
My email to Karan
Mr Nidesh Gupta is a supreme court lawyer who is presently handling the case of Maj Generals. He watched the programme on TV on Friday and asserts that Manish Tewari quoted the three judgments out of context and totally misled the viewers. Nidesh is prepared to come on the TV - if given a chance - and rebut/demolish what Manish said. I thought I would pass this on to you.
Karan’s reply
Many thanks. I'll bear this in mind for the future. A very useful tip.
Foray into Politics
Drawing on military dicta, some ESM have rightly cautioned that first success is essential for morale. I do not know whether this would equally hold true in politics. Even if chances are slim, we may have to take the plunge. Success will come, even if not immediately. Those volunteering to contest would know that it means high cost.
Court Attitude on OROP
It is generally believed that the courts are ‘allergic’ to the term OROP. It does not bother them that soldiers are different from others. They would apply the law blindly and treat everyone equal. If the courts rule in favour of OROP for all, the government might claim that the cost is too high for all to get OROP and that might be the end. It seems prudent that we change our motto from OROP to something else, while keeping the substance unchanged. May be we can call for ‘sammaan aur samaanta’ or just seek equity under ‘military pension’ , as I had mentioned in my emailed article. Do shoot views/ comments/ suggestions asap.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009 24 February 2009
Excellency, Madam President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces,
This is in continuation of my letter of even No dated 15 Feb 2009.
I write to apprise you that more Ex Servicemen want to deposit their medals to show their disenchantment with the government refusal to remove the discrimination the old pensioners are being subjected to. Their single plea remains that two pensioners who have rendered equal length of service and have retired at the same rank should be given equal pension irrespective of their date of retirement. The Congress party, as major constituent of the UPA had committed in their manifesto that they would find a satisfactory solution to this long-pending issue. However, they have gone back on their commitment and have outrightly rejected the demand. The Ex servicemen have thus been compelled to resort to public demonstration of their disillusionment.
We would like to deposit the next consignment of medals at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 15:30 hours on 14 March 2009. We as a delegation of five Ex servicemen would also like to meet you on that day to explain the issue in person. If not convenient, the meeting could also take place on another date, independent of depositing of medals. In this connection my request for seeking an audience with your Excellency, is already pending since 24 November 2008. With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil
Hon’ble President of India
Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
South Block, New Delhi – 110 011
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