IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- Snap Report

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Dear Friends,
I came back from Jantar Mantar a short while ago. The detailed report for the day will follow soon. This is just a snap report to inform you that the function today at Jantar Mantar was great success. The- media- well today almost all the media worth its name print media and TV were there. Eight TV satellite vehicles were deployed in the area. A few of the pictures are reproduced below. More will follow soon.
"Report My Signals" congratulates the IESM Core Group and IESM covenors of every state and city who came and joined the Rally at Jantar Mantar. The veterans from All Three Services, and All Ranks were present at the Rally.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj

Army veterans to return medals over pension row

Press Trust of India
Sunday, February 08, 2009, (New Delhi)
After the government rejected the ex-servicemen's demand of 'One Rank One Pension', several retired officers and jawans have decided to return their gallantry medals to the President on Sunday.

"Over 300 general rank officers along with 10,000 officers and jawans have decided to return their medals to the Government. Why should we keep our medals with us when the establishment does not have any respect for us?" said Vice Chairman of the Indian Ex servicemen Movement (IESM) Maj (Gen retd) Satbir Singh said.

He said the protesting ex-servicemen will gather at Jantar Mantar here and pack their medals in sacks and surrender them to the President.

Since the President is not in the capital, the medals would be handed over to a senior officer at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Singh said.

Beside the mass-surrender of medals, the veterans would take out a three-kilometre-long protest march starting and terminating at Jantar Mantar.

Members of IESM has been sitting on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since December 16 last year.

During the last Parliament session, Government had stated that it was not contemplating providing 'One rank, One pension' to similarly placed officers and jawans after their retirement.

With the pay commissions increasing the pay of armed forces and security personnel every 10 years, the gap between the pension received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions widened.

Similarly placed retired officers (with same ranks and number of years of service) were receiving different amounts as pension, which has been opposed by lakhs of ex-servicemen all across the country.
Army veterans to return medals over pension row: Press Trust of India
Related Articles:
Army veterans to return medals by Rajat Pandit, TNN
Army veterans to surrender medals

Vox Populi
this is the most disgraced thing which can happen in the India we have known and which it is today... our protectors r so much in pain... it feels bad for them... they manage the whole of India and they are the reason for our safety...
it is because of them we have always lived without fear and have had always the free air of love and peace... and this is what the government have to give them....a real shame... what worse can happen than this... they have increased the pay manifold of the govt. officials then y not the jawans who stand on one leg and serve this country selflessly... whereas those useless, full of bribe wanters officials get more than they ever deserved... a real shame... and then the govt. says that not many young people are coming to join armed forces... what do they expect... they treat the jawans with disgrace then why shud we ever join these forces... give us one good reason and advantage comparing to the govt. officials... do they have any answers... shame...there is pay hike in all sectors then y not them...answer...is someone there???
Army veterans to return medals over pension row

IESM: Fast for Justice Janatar Mantar- fifty second day

Date: Saturday, 7 February, 2009, 10:42 PM

Dear Colleagues,
Jantar Mantar is under the joint charge of our stalwarts from UP and Punjab today.

Rally Preparations
Most members of the Core Gp under the charge of Gen Satbir Singh have spent the day out there tying up the usual D minus 1 detail. News continues to pour in from various parts of the country of ESM descending on Delhi for the rally. Sub Maha Singh, President of District Poorva Sainik Sangh, Churu (Rajasthan) called up to inform that they along with their Jhunjhunu peers would be joining in. Brig Kiran Krishan called from Chandigarh that nine officers from there are joining the event. And there are others.

The March
After the usual brief speeches, we carry out a peaceful march along Jantar Mantar - Ashok Road - Jan Path - Tolstoy Marg - Jantar Mantar. As per the police this is the first time a procession has ever be permitted on this route. (It has not been easy to get them to agree). We must remain disciplined and orderly, walking on the Left side and causing minimum disruption to traffic.

Media
Maj Gen Thaplial has got another major TV channel - Times Now - on board. Well dome Sheroo! Our gratitude also to Anand Gupta for herding Tehelka.
I have also managed to get India Live, Star News and News X to cover the event. I have been literally flooded with phone calls from the media today. What they have found the most newsworthy is the ‘surrendering’ of medals. Tomorrow we can hope to read a lot of it in the papers– Asian Age, Dainik Jagran, HT (Nasirabad), Business Bhaskar and others. One TV channel even rushed over for a byte.

New members
We extend a hearty welcome to the following for becoming members of IESM and for their generous contributions:

ARMY
1. Maj MR Sud
2. Brig VK Saxena
3. Lt Col JS Bedi
NAVY
1. Cdr KS Pathania
2. Cdr VK Sharma
3. PO CS Verma
4. POME DS Rawat
5. Cdr DD Chopra
6. Cdr JP Shrivastava
7. Cdr JS Jassal
8. Cmde JK Kapur
AIR FORCE
1. Air Cmde Pritam Singh
2. Wg Cdr Atul Kumar
3. Wg Cdr SC Kapoor
4. Air Cmde NS Matharhoo
5. Wg Cdr HS Bedi
6. Wg Cdr RN Jain
7. AVM RK Malhotra
8. Gp Capt BK Dhir
9. Air Cmde DS Sant
10. Wg Cdr SKS Bedi
11. Air Marshal KK Dhawan
12. Wg Cdr Virinder Singh
13. Gp Capt US Tandon

Miscellany and Appeal
A press release to be issued on 8 Feb and a letter to the President are attached as link below. We must maintain law and discipline.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Memorandum from Indian Ex Servicemen
Ex Servicemen Rally 8 February 2009: Press Note

Sir,
I am Ex Sgt Mathew Augstine. I have come to know about the Movement and its activities recently. On enquiry I found that the Ex-Service League (IESL) or the AFA unit in our locality is not aware of the struggle that IESM is undertaking at Janthar Manthar. Is it more effective if we can coordinate all other organisations and have nation wide campaigns like signature campaign or sending emails to President of India.
Mathew Augustine (652748H Ex Sgt)

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Brig RKS Gulia, President IESL, just rang me up, from Hyderabad Airport that as discussed few days ago between him and Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Vice Chairman IESM, IESL will provide full support for the Veterans Rally on 08 Feb 09. I once again wish to remind you all to kindly reach Jantar Mantar latest by 1100 hours on 08 Feb 09. PLEASE BE THERE IN FULL STRENGTH ON 08 FEB 2009. "REPORT MY SIGNAL" WISHES ALL VETERANS ALL OVER INDIA GRAND SUCCESS ON 08 FEB 2009. HONGE KAMYAB HUM EK DIN.
GOD BE WITH YOU ALL.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans,
Chander Kamboj