IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and sixth day

Date: Wednesday, 1 April, 2009, 10:22 PM
Dear Colleagues,
The Jantar Mantar remains active.
Unity Efforts run Aground
The IESL- IESM joining up is under strain. You may recall the meeting we had in IESL HQ at 1830 hours on 27 Mar 2009. This had been scheduled after the IESL President had clarified on 26 Mar that there was no ‘lakshman rekha’ in the methods adopted to achieve our goal. The 27 Mar meeting was on request of IESL, including Brig RK Gulia, and the place, the time and the date were as suggested by him. Despite less than 24 hours notice, ten members of IESM Core Gp came for the meeting. Unfortunately, Brig Gulia did not attend himself. Reportedly, he was busy in the adjoining room with his AGM. Quite a few of our Core Gp members objected to his absence, both on grounds of propriety and practicality. Even though I was myself surprised and shared their concern, I played coolant by telling all that there must be some genuine compulsion that Brig Gulia could not attend.
During the meeting, Col Verma, Senior Vice President, Maj Gen Radhakrishnan, President Tamil Nadu ESL, Brig Kartar Singh, President Rajasthan ESL, Brig Nath, President Andhra Pradesh ESL and Col Janu, Governing Body member were present. Since Brig Gulia was himself not attending, it was a logical inference that his Senior Vice President and others had been empowered to take decisions. To assume otherwise would have rendered the whole exercise of sitting there meaningless. The decisions taken have already been included in the sitrep on 27 Mar 09. The extract:
1. There was ‘in principle’ agreement that the two would henceforth work together.
2. Each can retain its identity and fly its own flag for joint gatherings.
3. The four core demands of the IESM would form the common minimum programme.
4. The IESL agreed to join the 12 April rally at Jantar Mantar. An event-specific joint task force was constituted comprising four members from either side to button up details.
5. Depositing of medals (that the IESM is planning to do again on 12 April) was left to individuals’ choice.

It is noteworthy that the point about depositing of medals was discussed and it was decided that it be left to individuals. On 28 Mar the members from both sides met to discuss the nitty-gritty. There were some issues of difference but nothing substantial. Brig Gulia spoke to me on 29 March when I was on my way to Mathura. He expressed difficulty on two accounts: in sharing expenses and in attending the rally that was going to deposit medals. I told him that the first issue was resolvable. On the second issue I clearly told that we had already returned medals thrice and this is the format we have been following and would continue to follow. I also pointed out that this point was not raised in 27 Mar meeting. He kept repeating “aap dekh lena”.

Two other developments are significant. I attended the Jhajjar rally on 28 Mar and Mathura/ Agra rally the next day. In Jhajjar the organizers told me that there had been a caveat from Col VK Singh of the IESL asking their members not to attend the rally. In Mathura the anchor Col Vikram Singh told me that there had been a caveat issued on 29 Mar by Brig Solanki in Meerut asking IESL members to keep away. While such reports had been coming in regularly for the last one year, I never took notice. And notice I did not take even this time. However, this ran counter to the spirit of the 27 Mar meeting and could possibly raise doubts on whether there was a disconnect between declarations and intent.

On 31 Mar Maj Gen Radhakrishnan (President TN ESL) came on a to-and-fro visit from Karnal and we met on his request. I admire his total sincerity in trying to bring the two organizations together. We had a long and detailed discussion. Some of the points that came up were (his points shown in Blue):
1. There is a strong belief that the representation through proper channel will in due course lead to OROP.
I pointed out that for the last 25 years various IESL Presidents had been making representations without OROP being sanctioned, and it cannot be said that all of them were mere push-overs. Besides, facts run counter to such a belief; govt has already rejected OROP in Parliament.
2. There was an impression based on dialogue between the IESL delegates and the Secretary ESW that there is a positive change of perception on the OROP.
I raised a flag of caution against such misplaced optimism and warned against falling into the trap of honey talk. Contextually speaking, I mentioned that during our meeting on 14 Jan 09, after being briefed on OROP the Secretary ESW had remarked that till that day he had not understood OROP and that now he did. Gen Radha looked wide-eyed in disbelief and disclosed that the Secretary had used these very words in IESL HQ on 27 March.
3. He said that while he does not see any policy change granting OROP immediately, but something substantial is likely to be announced. Continuing, he talked of correction of an error in pension calculations due to the misinterpretation of the policy by the concerned officials.
My take was that we are not looking for corrections and compensations but a principle- based OROP decision.
4. He appealed that I reconsider the sentiments of the President IESL and find a mutually agreeable compromise.
While agreeing to a spirit of accommodation, I underscored depositing of medals being the raison d’être of IESM approach and expressed my inability to compromise on it. I also pointed out that IESL insistence that we drop this crucial element from our efforts amounted to IESL wanting to put conditionality for working together. Gen Radhakrishnan resolved to continue his efforts at the unity till the last minute. I genuinely wished him success.

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

Medals and Gallantry Awards
I quote a remark attributed to Gen Thimayya in Maj Gen KK Tewari's
book 'A Soldier's Voyage Of Self Discovery.- Quote'"one of the things
that a soldier prided himself on was having some colourful
operational medals ribbons on his chest..." -Unquote
We retired with rows and rows of medals with colourful ribbons.
Alas, thanks to the sixth pay commission, now our chests are bare
like the bottom of a new born child.
Brig Lakshman Singh (Retd)

Thought for the day: Unity efforts grounded
We all know that Soldiers are wedded to victory, but like other married couples they sometimes live apart.