IESM: Update and Future Course of Action

Dear Friends,
1. The Advisory having been issued by the IESM for the Lok Sabha Elections keeping in mind the best interests of Defence Services, we need to do a lot to spread the message and motivate all Defence Personnel to vote for BJP/NDA. By doing so, we will not only be achieving our aims of getting OROP and other demands implemented but also strengthening the Defence Forces to face the future National Security Challenges. Let us not spend time on “why” and “how” of the Advisory. Let us put our faith with the BJP/NDA as a “One Time Testing”. I am sure they will deliver this time and by any chance if they don’t measure up, we will launch a very strong Movement Against them.
2. This time, let us not split our Votes. Defence Forces, should go full hog to vote for BJP/ NDA. Victory of BJP will be the victory of IESM. We wish to assure you that, our decision to arrive at such an Advisory was taken after detailed deliberations, keeping in mind the future and the interest of Defence Forces. We need to develop such an environment wherein the Defence Services will be able to serve the nation with pride and dignity.
3. The Armed Forces have been kept out of the Decision Making loop of the Nation. We need to correct this serious anomaly both in the case of serving and retired personnel. We need to efficiently and effectively use the “Power of Vote” in order to create the required pressure and momentum with One Voice PAN India and ensure due justice to the Defence Forces.
4. Right to Vote at the place of posting for the serving personnel has been denied to us for the last five decades. Simple and workable rules have not been made to ensure each soldier and his/ her dependants can cast their votes at the place of posting. The existing rules are so cumbersome and difficult that practically, the defence forces personnel are unable to cast their votes. This has been the main reason that the political parties and the Government never took us seriously and kept on downgrading our status, Izzat and emoluments viz other central services. Brig GS Ghuman from Mohali has very rightly filed the writ petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court which has issued Notice to the Election Commission for not having carried out door to door survey for making defence personnel as voters at the place of their posting. This may not help us in this Lok Sabha Election, but surely we will benefit for future elections.
5. Civilian Control over the defence Forces, means the control of the elected representative of the people of India ie Parliament and the Govt and Not Repeat Not the bureaucracy which has been forcing its supremacy over the Defence Forces. This has been severely and strongly resented by defence personnel and the same needs to be corrected in the National interest.
6. My next point is with regard to membership drive of IESM. Friends, we have repeatedly requested all ESM Organizations and individual ESM to become members. There is no other way but to have One Umbrella Organization for all ESM of the Country. IESM has come a long way and it has all the requisite characteristics to function as the single Umbrella Organisation as a Federation of Ex servicemen Organisations. Let us work tirelessly to achieve the figure of over Two Million members. It can be done if every one puts in his/her best effort to spread the message, aims and objectives of IESM in every nook and corner of the country. Please volunteer to be convenors of, districts, cities, tehsils and block and forward your details at the earliest. The state convenors are requested for urgent actions on “Op Immediate Basis”.
7. As we go along, we will initiate other activities and plans to improve the satisfaction level of veterans. Employment opportunities, health care, education, including professional education, task forces for nation building activities are on our planning radars. We will evolve and develop ourselves as Forces to reckon with. Only then we will be able to suitably stop the likes of Abhishek Manu Singhvi who indulged in insulting our Former Chief of Army Staff and Dy Chief of Army Staff by intentionally calling them “Mr” instead of “General” during Karan Thapar’s TV Programme, knowing fully well that it is only the Defence Forces by the order of the President of India are allowed to prefix their rank before their name forever... post retirement and even after they fade away from this world.
8. The CD on 12 Apr 09 Rally at Jantar Mantar which includes the Advisory on voting in this election has been sent to all state Convenors and also circulated on the Net. Please show this CD in each village of the country and also during meetings and rallies across country. Forward the same to as many Defence Personnel as possible.
9. Mission “Justice for Defence Forces” has gained Momentum. Let us give it a further push. We are going to Help Ourselves, only then God will help us.
God Bless and God Speed.
With regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM