PRESIDENT’S STAFF REFUSES TO ACCEPT BLOOD SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF EX SERVICEMEN (ESM)Dear Friends,
1. A News item titled “PLEA IN BLOOD CAST ASIDE OVER HIV FEAR” on Page 20 of MAIL TODAY dated 05 Jan 2011 is attached for your information and further circulation please.
2. How much more humiliation can we accept from the powers that be to get our due JUSTICE?
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Plea in blood cast aside over HIV fear By Neetu Chandra in New Delhi
THEY paid a tribute of blood to the nation while in active service. But when the veteran war heroes — fighting a protracted battle for ‘one rank, one pension’ — reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan recently to submit protest letters signed in their own blood, their missives were flatly rejected over fears of HIV transmission.
An 11– member delegation of the Indian Ex- Servicemen’s Movement (IESM) wanted to meet President Pratibha Patil to return at least 10,000 gallantry medals and submit a memorandum and sheets of paper containing the signatures.
“The President’s staff accepted the memorandum, but refused to touch the sheets with the signatures of 1,440 war veterans in blood. The staff said medical authorities had advised them not to accept the blood- stained sheets as they might be infected with HIV,” said delegation leader Colonel (retd) Kirit Joshipura.
“ Three months ago, the IESM chairman had informed the President, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, that the military veterans would be depositing their medals on November 28. On being told that the President was on a foreign tour, the ex- servicemen decided not to give the medals to the staff”, IESM vice- chairman Major General ( retd) Satbir Singh said.
The ex- servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank, one pension’ for the past two and a half years. The President’s staff recently refused to accept protest letters signed in their blood (picture above) over fears of HIV infection. The medals include Shaurya Chakra, Veer Chakra, Vishisht Sewa, Ati Vishisht Sewa and Param Vishisht Sewa medals. The 11- member team of veterans returned to Jantar Mantar with the medals and the sheets containing the signatures.
“It was humiliating enough that the President’s office refused to accept the blood- signed sheets, but the officials went a step further when they revealed the reason for turning down the missives,” said Singh.
“It is astounding that the President’s office didn’t accept the blood signatures fearing HIV infection. Which medical authorities could have given such advice?” Air Vice Marshal ( retd) S. K. Adaval said. He was an Additional Director General in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
“I have practised pathology for 40 years, but fail to understand the rationale behind this decision,” Adaval added.
A senior haematologist concurred with Adaval, saying: “ The infectious elements need a certain temperature to survive. There is no chance of infections being transferred through blood signatures.” The ex- servicemen have been protesting over the past two and a half years. “ This was the eighth time they wanted to meet the President to submit a memorandum,” senior warrant officer P. R. Balathilkan said. As many as 22,000 medals have already been deposited with the President along with a memorandum inked in blood by 1.25 lakh ex- servicemen.
The ‘ one rank, one pension’ demand is aimed at protecting the interests of older pensioners. The parliamentary standing committee on defence has repeatedly asked the government to implement it.
The President’s staff was cagey about the matter. “ The petition signed in ink was accepted and forwarded to the defence ministry,” an official from the President’s office said. The official confirmed the blood signature sheets were not accepted, but did not give a reason.
The standing committee had observed that pay commissions had made improvements in the pension structure, keeping in view the cost of living index. This had accentuated the disparity in the pension of the ex- servicemen who had retired in the 1950s and 1960s.
Mail Today: Plea in blood cast aside over HIV fear By Neetu Chandra in New Delhi
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