IESM Rally at Jantar Mantar on 06 Mar 2011

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
The ESM SITREP of 03 Mar 11 is appended below.
Once again I wish to remind ALL VETERANS in NCR, please participate in the Indian Military Veterans’ rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, from 10.00 AM to 3.00PM on 06 Mar 11.

We want it to be a VISHAL RALLY – and it cannot be VISHAL unless YOU ALL participate.

Do not look for excuses to miss it – be a proud Indian Military Veteran and participate.

In the past also from Lt Generals and equivalents downwards to a soldier, rating, airman and widows all have attended.
You are also one of the categories mentioned above – why should you not attend??? Shrug that shyness and dress up for the Rally.

Best way to travel in Delhi would be by Metro.
Either get down at Patel Chowk Metro Station, from where the site is 300 metres or get down at Rajeev Chowk (Connaught Place) Metro Station from where the site is 1 km.

Preferable Dress. Please feel free to wear dress of your liking, but if convenient please wear your Regimental Mufti with side cap or wear any Service insignia which will distinguish you as a Military Veteran.

It is important to impress upon the media and the public that we are Indian Military Veterans “Fighting For Justice to Defence Services” and not some ordinary people.

Site Administration. True to traditions of the Defence Services - adequate administrative arrangements for seating, water, tea, very simple lunch and toilets are being made at the site. We will make you as comfortable as we can.

PLEASE – help in keeping the place neat and tidy and ensure the tea cups etc are not littered around – be a volunteer to help us in this task.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Dear Colleagues,
As is known by now, instructions have been issued to the Army Commands to discontinue use of the acronym PBOR for our JCOs and Other Ranks as the term had derogatory connotation. We are grateful to the Service Chiefs for setting right an aberration.
As a follow-up of our rally in Damdama Jheel (Sohna District, Haryana) on 27 February 2011, 43 Veteran JCOs and Other Ranks have become members of the IESM. We extend a hearty welcome to these new members into the IESM family. The area has a high density of ESM and efforts are continuing to motivate others to join.
Looking forward to see maximum colleagues at the Jantar Mantar rally on 06 March 2011
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Pakistan flushing fake money into India

04/03/2011
Pak flushing India with fake money: US report
Washington: India faces an increasing inflow of counterfeit currency, produced primarily in Pakistan, and terrorist and criminal networks use this money to finance their activities in the country, an official US report has said.

"India faces an increasing inflow of high-quality counterfeit currency, which is produced primarily in Pakistan but smuggled to India through multiple international routes," said the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the State Department.

"Criminal networks exchange counterfeit currency for genuine notes, which not only facilitates money laundering, but also represents a threat to the Indian economy," it said.

Tax avoidance and the proceeds of economic crimes (including fraud, cyber crime and identity theft) are still the mainstay of money launderers in India, but laundered funds are also derived from human and narcotics trafficking, transnational organised crime, illegal trade, particularly in endangered wildlife and illegal gems (principally diamonds), and corruption, the report said.

Noting that India is a significant target for terrorist groups, both external and domestic, the report said most terrorist activities are conducted by international terrorist groups and entities linked to the global jihad, with the support of both state and non-state external actors.

In addition, several domestic separatist and insurgent groups are active. Terrorist groups often use counterfeit currency and hawaladars, as well as physical cross-border currency smuggling, to move funds from external sources to finance their activities in India, it said.

The State Department report recommends that the Indian Government should press for presidential approval to implement the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 1976, which would extend foreign contribution reporting requirements to any non-profit organisation that has a political, cultural, economic, educational or social focus and automate notification of suspicious transactions to the FIU.

It also recommended the Indian Government to facilitate development of alternative money transfer services, including mobile banking.

"This expansion of legitimate, accessible services would allow broader financial inclusion of legitimate individuals and entities, and reduce AML/CFT vulnerabilities by shrinking the informal network," said the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the State Department.

The Indian Government should also extend the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to include gem and precious-metals dealers, real estate agents, lawyers, notaries, other independent legal professionals, accountants, and commodity futures brokers and to clearly add a safe harbour provision for those filing STRs in good faith.

The government should ensure reporting entities fully implement appropriate due diligence procedures, to include both computerised tracking systems and active engagement by trained frontline personnel.

It should also emphasise the importance of human intervention and analysis in terrorist financing cases, as the varied profiles of these cases may not trigger an automated report, the State Department said. Source: PTI
Pak flushing India with fake money: US report

Sting Operation
Washington: Vikramaditya Singh, the son-in-law of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh, has been sentenced to six months of home confinement by a US court after he was caught in a federal sting operation selling military grade micro wave radios to Iran. He now faces deportation.
Click here to read more

IESM: Rally on 06 March 2011

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email and copy of article published by UNI, received from Shree Abhijit C Chandra, Chief Sub-Editor UNI, is reproduced below.
I once again appeal to YOU ALL, to kindly take part in the Military Veterans Rally on Sunday, 06 March 11, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
The numbers do matter.
Therefore, each one of you is very important for the success of Indian Military Veterans. Do not look for excuses to miss the rally.
Be a proud Veteran and take part in the rally.
LET US ALL STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE TO INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS- IT IS NOW OR NEVER
Best way to reach the rally site is to travel by Metro in Delhi.
The rally site is on 300 metres from the Patel Chowk Metro Station and 1000 metre from the Rajive Chowk Metro station, both easy walking distances.
Wear a regimental cap or some insignia to indicate you are an Indian Military Veteran, that will help to impress on the media and the public watching us.
Join the rally with family members and friends – 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM.
Adequate administrative arrangements for seating, water, tea, a simple lunch and sanitation are being made at the rally site, with typical military perfection.
I also appeal to the Indian Military Veterans to kindly activate their contacts with print media and the TV media.
Please ensure we get the best possible media coverage.
Do not miss this chance of supporting the Fight for Justice to Indian Military Veterans.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj

Subject: Veterans' Vishal Rally to protest against Centre's apathy
Respected Sir/Madam,
The following report- released by the United News of India news agency on March 2, 2011- is for your kind perusal.
With regards,
Abhi

VETERANS' VISHAL RALLY TO PROTEST AGAINST CENTRE'S APATHY
Bhopal, Mar 2 (UNI)
Veterans under the banner of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) will hold a Vishal Rally at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday to protest against the Centre's "apathy and negative attitude" towards their genuine demands the principal one being 'One Rank One Pension'.
"Thereafter, a delegation will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan to deposit gallantry and Distinguished Service medals and a memorandum signed in blood to the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces," IESM Vice-Chairman Major-General (Retd) Satbir Singh, Sena Medal, said in a release.
IESM Chairman Lieutenant-Gen Raj Kadyan, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, AVSM, VSM, has already written to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to accept the medals and the memo herself.
On seven earlier occasions, the veterans sought to return their medals to the Supreme Commander but the President has never granted them audience. The veterans have decided that in case the President does not accept the medals and the memo in person they will bring these back. The Rally will be conducted from 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs.
"Despite veterans peaceful protests across the country for the past over 30 months, depositing of over 22,000 medals besides memoranda signed in blood by over 1.5 lakh veterans and numerous missives to and meetings with the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and other authorities, the Centre has not accepted genuine demands," Maj-Gen Singh alleged.
The Armed Forces tribunals, formed with a lot of "fanfare" to provide speedy justice to both serving and retired personnel, have been reduced to "toothless" tigers by the bureaucracy by not giving these the powers to initiate contempt proceedings against non-implementation of judgements.
This is evidenced by the fact that out of 4,000 judgements, 3600- which were in personnel's favour- have not witnessed implementation.
"Establishment of the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission, comprising two retired judges and two senior retired defence officers, was ordered by the Supreme Court and was to be operational by January 14. But till now, the Commission has not been rendered operational at ground level," Maj-Gen Singh pointed out.
It was extremely "disturbing" to know that personnel's widows were left out from the enhancement of pensions of junior commissioned officers and jawans carried out through a Government notification dated March 8, 2010.
"The Centre's indifferent attitude towards the Armed Forces is unexplainable especially keeping in mind the hostile environment prevailing on our borders both at land and sea. A nation to survive in such a hostile environment has to keep its forces well-equipped, well-trained, motivated and contented. These aspects need to be holistically addressed," he added.

Jan Lokpal Bill to fight cancerous corruption- Join the movement

Dear All,
It is high time that the looters are given a sure boot and a burial. I am sure all of you would join this movement against corruption. Our countrymen deserve much better from those at the helm who are into a unimaginable and uncontrolled greed and loot. Only a people's mass movement can stop this.
With best wishes,
Lt Gen Yati Panwar (Retd)

Anna Hazare fasts unto death against corruption- announces fast unto death
Anna Hazare has given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to enact stringent anti- corruption law – the peoples “Jan Lokpal Bill”! Jail to the corrupt must happen! We have been betrayed by those that are leading us!
When & Where?
From 5th April at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

Who is Anna Hazare?
A soldier, lone survivor in his unit in 1965 Indo-Pak war, Anna dedicated his life to the well-being of society. A bachelor, an ascetic, he has no possessions, no bank balance and lives in a temple.
He is a living Mahatma Gandhi!
In Maharashtra, Anna has single handedly transformed barren and dry regions into green and food surplus areas. He has fasted unto death on several earlier occasions. He forced the Maharashtra government to dismiss the corrupt - 6 ministers and 400 officers. Due to his fast, the govt enacted the Maharashtra RTI Act. In 2006, when government of India tried to amend the Central RTI Act, he again went on an indefinite fast and forced the Indian government not to amend RTI Act.
Leaders, organizations and the common man from across India will be with him. This is a do or die moment – let us make it happen!
Across India, join Swami Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Swami Agnivesh, Arch Bishop Vincent Concessao, Mahmood A Madani, Kiran Bedi, J M Lyngdoh, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mufti Shamoom Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Arun Bhatia, Sunita Godara, All India Bank Employees Federation, PAN IIT Alumni Association, Common Cause and many other prominent organizations and leaders, as India comes out on the streets! 100+ CITIES WILL RALLY BEHIND ANNA!

This is a defining moment for India that can give our children a better future! Let us unite and stand by him! Thousands will be there to support him. Will you be there?

Anna’s appeal to the people:

When I sit on fast from 5 April, I urge my fellow countrymen to join me in fasting for one, two, three or whatever number of days you can comfortably fast. Along with fast, please pray to God (whoever you believe in) for better and corruption free India. Collective prayers from all the people of India would definitely have a huge impact.

Write an impassioned plea to our Prime Minister that we look upon him to pass “Jan Lokpal Bill”, else we will be compelled not to vote for his party in next elections.

Remain calm and peaceful and develop the courage to go to jail, if required, in this next freedom movement.

If possible, come and stay with Anna at Jantar Mantar for a few days from April 5th.

Would you like to stay updated about this movement? Let us know your contact details at indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill

Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, this Bill has been refined on the basis of feedback received from public on website and after series of public consultations. It has also been vetted by and is supported by Shanti Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kiran Bedi, Anna Hazare etc. It was sent to the PM and all CMs on 1st December. However, there is no response.

An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up

Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month’s time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

But won’t the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won’t be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

JAN LOKPAL BILL will act as deterrent and instill fear against corruption
(This movement is neither affiliated nor aligned to any political party)
India Against Corruption: A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP | 09718500606
India Against Corruption

Kalmadi confirms CWG Scam was a team work and demands JPC

CWG OC official, corporate honcho sent to Tihar
Zee News Updated on Monday, February 28, 2011, 19:19
New Delhi: CWG Organising Committee's Additional Director General K Udai Kumar Reddy and a corporate honcho Praveen Bakshi, arrested for their alleged corrupt deeds in arranging various logistic support to the sporting event, were sent to Tihar Jail on Monday under judicial custody.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini sent the duo to the city's central prison after the lapse of their 5-days' custody period with the agency sleuths for their custodial interrogation.
"CBI says that investigation is not yet complete and thus the accused (Reddy and Bakshi) be remanded to 14 days judicial custody. Accused are remanded to judicial custody till March 14," the judge said.
The court also directed the jail superintendent to consider the plea by both the accused for using reading glasses inside the prison, as per jail manual.
Earlier, the court had questioned the CBI for not arresting the officials of the CWG OC who have allegedly accepted huge bribe in awarding contracts at exorbitant rates.
CBI had submitted that Bakshi had paid huge bribe to the officials of the OC in return for getting contracts at exorbitant rates and release of payments. It had also added that that Reddy had accepted the bribe amount from Baskhi.
The premises of both the accused, arrested on February 22, were searched by the CBI on February 18 along with that of five other CWG OC officials and suppliers in connection with overlays scam.
Nearly Rs 600 crore worth of contracts relating to the overlays project are under the scanner for alleged irregularities.
Overlays works included supply of tents, marquees, prefabricated units, portable toilets, containers, security fences, furniture, public display LED boards, floor finishes, material handling equipment, gensets, cabling, UPS, air-conditioners, lighting, civil construction, athletic exercise equipment and grandstands.
The agency had conducted a number of searches in certain premises across the country in early January in connection with the scam, including those of an officer under Union Sports Ministry.
The overlays contracts are also under the scanner of the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate. The premises of both the accused, arrested on February 22, were searched by CBI on February 18 along with that of five other CWG OC officials and suppliers in connection with overlays scam.
Nearly Rs 600 crore worth of contracts relating to the overlays project are under the scanner for alleged irregularities.
Overlays works included supply of tents, marquees, prefabricated units, portable toilets, containers, security fences, furniture, public display LED boards, floor finishes, material handling equipment, gensets, cabling, UPS, air-conditioners, lighting, civil construction, athletic exercise equipment and grandstands. PTI
CWG OC official, corporate honcho sent to Tihar

Rat Menace Grips the Armed Forces

Armed Forces Medical Services tasked to reduce rat population
New Delhi: Army is searching for a Pied Piper in Ladakh where rats are gobbling up its ration which reaches there through a long and arduous supply route. The Indian Army stocks supplies for winter in the summer itself as the road links to higher altitudes remains cut-off from the rest of the country in winter due to heavy snowfall for around six months.
As the roads are too narrow, they take the help of mules to carry these rations and other essential supplies to an altitude of over 15,000 feet. Since there is significant rodent infestation in the Army settlements in higher altitudes, the Medical Research Wing of the Armed Forces Medical Services are going to undertake a study to find out the extent of the problem of rodent nuisance in eastern and western Ladakh armed forces settings.
"Rats cause a great deal of nuisance everywhere. They spoil precious stocks, lead to nuisance and also spread diseases. Army settlements in higher altitudes are not spared from this as these rats are spoiling the winter stocks.
"All conventional methods of controlling them are not as effective as they are in the plains," Lieutenant General Naresh Kumar, Commandant, Army Hospital Research and referral and officiating DGAFMS said.
Conventional methods exist to control rodent nuisance like rat traps, rodenticides and repellents have failed in Ladakh. "Carrying rations and other essential supplies to an altitude of over 15,000 feet is no easy task. As such we have decided to conduct a study to identify the problem of rodent nuisance in eastern Ladakh and western Ladakh in Armed Forces setting and evaluate various methods to control them for effective management of their infestation in our areas in eastern and western Ladakh," Major General Mandeep Singh, ADG, Medical Research, Armed Forces Medical Services said.
Rats not only waste our food grains like wheat, rice and atta but they also cause a great deal of nuisance by scampering, running around and making noise.
And needless to say they are carriers of various diseases, he said.
"None of these conventional methods are of help to us. In the study that will be undertaken, we will concentrate on three aspects. We will look for measures to identify the most effective technique to control the nuisance spread by rats.
While looking into the various nuisance spread by them we will also find if they have the potential to spread diseases," Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Abraham, preventive medicine specialist said.
"These rats never were present here in the higher altitudes or came in with the food stock in trucks and gradually breeded in large quantities -- all these details need to be found out.
"There is no established study of rodent nuisance in higher altitudes," he said. PTI
Army is searching for a Pied Piper in Ladakh

Comment: Chinese love Rats. Mr Zhang's restaurant is as trendy as they serve rat dishes. The 15-table, two-story eatery is a mixture of blond wood furniture, stucco walls and wooden lattice laced with plastic vines. What we need to do is trade rats with PLA Soldiers in exchange for critical food items.

IESM Rally at Damdama Jheel, Haryana

Dear Colleagues,
An IESM rally was held today at Damdama Jheel in Sohna District of Haryana. It was attended by 300 ESM and Service families. CK Sharma, Satbir, Aditya Jaini, Vinod Gandhi and self had joined the event. Considering the area has a high density of ESM the attendance could be higher – there were many other political rallies being held today and this being the peak marriage season were the main diversions – but the moderateness in numbers was more than made up by the infectious enthusiasm. There was palpable eagerness and resolve to carry on with the struggle till we get justice. There was also a long queue of IESM membership seekers.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

HARYANA FAVOURS ONE RANK ONE PENSION SCHEME FOR EX-SERVICEMEN
Bhiwani (Haryana), Feb 5, 2011 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Saturday said that his government was in favour of one rank, one pension scheme for the ex-army personnel. 'I had also advocated this issue in parliament when I was an MP. The union government has taken a number of steps in this direction,' said Hooda, while talking to reporters at an Army Mela here. The two-day 'Army Mela', which is being organised by the Indian Army, was inaugurated at Bhim Stadium here Saturday.

Speaking on the issue, Army chief Gen VK.Singh, who was also present, said: 'The centre is considering the issue. The one rank, one pension norm has been achieved for JCOs and soldiers, up to 90% ranks, while the issue regarding officers is under consideration.'

Comparing the strength of Indian defence forces with China, Singh said that Indian soldiers are matchless. 'Defence forces are not evaluated on the basis of numbers only, other factors like morale, physical efficiency, courage and enthusiasm are also important,' he noted. (SOURCE-SIFY NEWS)

Two Years ago an ESM Commission promised
Govt. to set up ex-servicemen commission soon
Friday, August 29, 2008 8:05:45 PM by ANI
Rewari (Haryana), August 29 (ANI): Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday said that the government would soon set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission to address the grievances of armed forces veterans and plan welfare schemes for them.

After opening a new department in the Defence Ministry for ex-servicemen, the government is going to set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission soon to recommend various welfare schemes for them and their families, Antony said, during the inauguration function of a Sainik School at Thappa Gothra Khori village near Rewari in Haryana.

He also said that the government had earmarked around Rs 6,000 crore additionally for serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen after removing the anomalies in the recommendations of the sixth pay commission, which was being implemented from 1st September 2008.

Antony urged other States of the country to learn from Haryana, he further added that he is very impressed with Haryana government efforts in taking care of its ex-servicemen and providing them welfare schemes.

The Sainik Schools are today one of the major vehicles to carry forward the movement of mass discipline in our society, he said. (ANI)