Adarsh scam: Former Army chief under scanner

Former Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor was on Thursday (July 19) quizzed in connection to the Kargil for profit scam. Gen Kapoor today deposed before judicial commission probing the scam. The former army chief was quizzed on writing personal letters to politicians on letter heads. When asked by the commission, "Do army rules permit army personnel using of letter head to write personal letters to politicians?", Gen Deepak Kapoor is said to have replied, "I am not aware of any rule which prohibits doing so."
Contradicting Ashok Chavan, the promoter of scam-tainted Adarsh Society today said the former Maharashtra chief minister had suggested increase in the number of civilians in the Society, essentially meant for defence personnel.
Adarsh scam: Former Army chief under scanner
Comment: Exemplary punishment must be given to guilty Army Chief's who have proved to be cheaters and corrupt. Otherwise the morale of the Military will continue to sink.

Veteran Unity: Call for Truce

Dear Veterans,
I am pleased to learn that some friends who earlier destroyed a very serious effort to bring about a Common Agenda as opposed to unity, have again woken up to the need for unity through our friend Gen Bahri a respected member of the IESM. In Oct 2010, after reading my posts on our efforts for the last thirty yeas, many Veterans desired that I took the initiative to work out unity amongst us all. Moved by similar sentiments I relented and took up the Challenge. What happened then I am sure you would like to know before you tread on this dangerous and unachievable course again without taking appropriate measures if you really can, for avoiding repetition of such a disaster. Here is what happened. This was written in response to a friends mail to me recently, who accused me recently of destroying the unity of Veterans.
UNITY
In 2010 I had received a lot of mails for initiating the process of unity amongst us all the ESM Orgs. Moved by these sentiments I invited all the orgs for working out a Common Agenda and not Unity on 21 Oct 2010, which all could present to the leadership when they got the opportunity to meet them. This primarily because having failed twice earlier in trying to get the best I wanted to work for what we could all bite and sustain. (What happened to it, read on.) I had been given an appointment by the RM and I thought if we could work out this Common Agenda we could all go together and present the same to the RM on 23 Oct 2010. What all happened to that initiative is given below in brief just to refresh your memory.
THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
1) MOVED BY THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY YOU ALL I TOOK UP THE INITIATIVE TO INVITE ALL ORGANIZATIONS FOR WORKING OUT A JOINT MEMO ON 21 OCT.
2) THE IESM PROMPTLY REJECTED THE INVITATION ON ACCOUNT OF SHORT NOTICE. GP CAPT VK GANDHI, WHO HAS NOW COME OUT WITH THIS IDEA, WAS THE ONE WHO SENT THAT MAIL I THEN SOUGHT FROM THEM THEIR INPUTS SO THAT THESE COULD BE INCORPORATED..BRIG CHANDER KAMBOJH INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE ATTENDING IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.
3) SUDDENLY I GOT ANOTHER MAIL THAT IESM WOULD COME AND GEN SATBIR, BRIG KAMBOJH AND COL JOSHIPURA WOULD ATTEND. THEY INCLUDED BRIG KAMBOJH IN THEIR LIST EVEN THOUGH HE SAID THAT HE WOULD ATTEND IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.
4) MEETING WAS HELD AS SCHEDULED. THE DRAFT MEMO PREPARED BY US WAS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL AND LOT OF GOOD SUGGESTIONS WERE GIVEN BY THEM ALL.
5) AFTER THE MEETING ALL SUGGESTIONS WERE INCORPORATED AND FRESH DRAFT CIRCULATED TO ALL FOR APPROVAL SO THAT IT COULD BE GIVEN TO THE DEFENCE MINISTER JOINTLY ON 23 OCT. DURING MY ALREADY SCHEDULED MEETING WITH HIM. COL JOSHIPURA SHOWED KEENNESS TO ACCOMPANY. THE PERMISSION FOR HIM WAS ACCORDINGLY OBTAINED TO INCLUDE HIM IN THE DELEGATION.
6) ON 22 OCT GOT A MAIL FROM GEN SATBIR THAT THE MEMO SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED YET. IT WAS THEREFORE HELD BACK.
7) ON 23 OCT WHEN COL JOSHIPURA WAS CONTACTED TO COME HE SAID THAT HE WAS TOLD THAT THE IESM HAD NOT YET TAKEN THE DECISION SO HE COULD NOT COME. HE DID NOT GET BACK. OBVIOUSLY THEY DECIDED AGAINST GOING TO THE RM WITH US. BRIG KAMBOJH IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY WENT ALONG.
8) THE ENTIRE INFORMATION ALONG WITH THE LETTERS GIVEN TO THE RM WERE PUT ON THE INTERNET FOR YOU TO KNOW. IN RESPONSE TO THAT MAIL THE IESM CHAIRMAN SENT ME A MAIL ASKING ME TO COME TO THEM ON 16 NOV FOR WORKING OUT THE COMMON STAND.
By this move they had first stalled the move forward from where we left on 21 Oct and then destroyed the work put in by so many including himself and his other companions. Having destroyed it then in their desperation to take all the credit they called a meeting for working out a common stand afresh. The Chairman IESM had personally addressed this mail to me and also sought my views.There was no mention at all of what had already been done on 21 Oct 2010. Had their mail said that we meet to finalize the draft already worked out I would have gladly participated. I also told him to correct their bye laws for no direct enrollment of individual members and show honest intentions before seeking unity. There was no response to that.
But NO. Why should they,when they had different agenda.That could happen only if their intentions were honest. The only sane person in that team was my old friend Chander who also accompanied us to the Meeting with the RM on 23 Oct 2010.
EARLIER UNITY EFFORTS
FIRST INITIATIVE -1982
When we raised the Association one of the Charters was that we should bring all Veterans Organizations under one flag. In 1982 we decided that we should form a Confederation under Trade Unions Act if we want to make the best of the privileges. We got every thing ready. The basic requirement of a Confederation of no individual members of it was ensured. All existing major Organizations came forward except the IESL. On the eve of clinching the matter, some of us were bought off by politicians and the initiative fizzled out. Its aims and ideals were basically similar to those proposed by Gp Capt VK Gandhi with definite clause for no direct individual membership for ensuring practice of what we professed and instilling confidence in smaller organizations that they would not be swallowed up after we get going with their support.
SECOND INITIATIVE - 1997
We lost the first battle, but never gave up. There arose another opportunity to motivate Organizations to work in unison for common case by forming a Confederation after the Fifth CPC report came out. We were successful in bringing all seven major recognized organizations together into a Confederation. We were successful in getting the IESL also that time. We started meetings regularly. The bye laws were got readied by us. When we got to setting it up, this time personal egos played havoc. Despite the breakup we managed to have a common memorandum signed by all except a few. On the basis of that Memorandum we were able to successfully get three of our seven submissions accepted from the Prime Minister during our Meeting with him on 26 July 2001. For other four he appointed a Committee under RM, which was to give its report in three months. What report it gave is a separate story.
Can you achieve even a semblance of unity with such politically motivated and self seeking friends? You will all agree with me if I said NO. All this is a big tamasha which ultimately ends up in dividing us all even more unless we eliminate our NETAS from the proposed exercise. They should however be assured that we would help them achieve their political ambitions once we have achieved the basic goals. And why not? After all they are our kins.
The IESM that has initiated this effort must first display its honest intentions by stopping direct enrollment of members. Whatever membership they have can be transferred to another set up under Societies Registeration Act. What ever Organization they then form or join, seeks membership of this Confederation that is formed ultimately.
Let the IESM and IESL first put this basic rule right before any thought can be spared for working out any unity with them.
Regards
Inderjit Singh

IESM: Call for Unity

18 Aug 12.
Dear Veterans of Indian Armed Forces in India and abroad,
Reference trailing emails from:
1. Lt Gen SK Bahri, Former MGO.
2. Gp Capt VK Gandhi, Secy Gen IESM.
Gen Bahri has very kindly consented to make all out efforts to bring unity among ALL THE ESM ORGANISATION of the Indian Armed Forces. It is need of the hour but it is not an easy task.
Therefore, for the benefit of us all, each one us, in particular the Heads of All ESM ORGANISATIONS within India and also abroad, have to extend a helping hand to Gen Bahri.
Gen Bahri has asked me to give him the email IDs and other essential data of all the ESM Organisations that I may have. Unfortunately, due to my bad health, for last one year I am out of touch with the ESM World. I do not think I have the latest data of all ESM Organisations.
Therefore, I request help from all of you to gather data of all ESM Organisations within India and abroad.
Please send me the following data with copy to Gen Bahri:
1. Name of the ESM Organisation.
2. Name of the Head of the Organisation.
3. Email ID. And if convenient also the following:
4. Phone and Mobile Numbers
5. Postal Address.
6. Any other information considered useful by you.
It is quite possible that many of you receiving this email are yourself the Head of an ESM Organisation, in India or abroad – so respond accordingly to Gen Bahri. If convenient endorse copy of your email to me also for record.
In addition to the above information which is urgently required by Gen Bahri for direct communication with the Heads of All ESM Organisations, I think it is the proper time to also have an updated list of all the ESM Email Groups. That will help us all for quick broadcast of important information to all the ESM having an email ID. Therefore, I also request you to send me the details of the various Email Groups of Indian Military Veterans operating in India and abroad. I am attaching a separate MS Word table for this purpose.
I ASSURE YOU THAT ALL THE ABOVE EMAIL IDs THAT I MAY RECEIVE SHALL BE USED PURELY FOR BROADCASTING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO OUR STRUGLE AGAINST INJUSTICE TO MILITARY VETERANS OR WIDOWS OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL, PENSION & RELATED ALLOWANCES, CSD, ECHS AND IMPORTANT ARTICLES RELATED TO THESE.
FRIENDS IT IS HIGH TIME THAT ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS JOIN HANDS AND STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE TO US AND WIDOWS OF ARMED FORCES.
WE HAVE TOLERATED ENOUGH – NO MORE. OF COURSE THE STRUGGLE MUST CONTINUE TO BE PEACEFUL AND ACCORDING OUR MILITARY ETHICS.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER SO PLEASE DO RESPOND
In Service of the Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj
PS – Due to my indifferent health, I shall be able to devote only limited time to run the “REPORT MY SIGNAL” . Please do not feel offended if I do not respond to some emails.

From: Satish Kumar Bahri
Sent: 17 August 2012 09:09
To: Chander Kamboj
Cc: Satbir Singh
Subject: UNITY AMONG ALL ESM AND ESM ORGANISATIONS
Dear Chander,
Ref the trailing mail.
In the interest of our common cause I have agreed to do whatever little I can do. In order to contact all the known ESM organisations I had asked for their email IDs from Satbir. He advised that I contact you as you would have them in the contact list of RMS.
Can I request tou to kindly do the needful. Would be grateful. Hope the clean environment and good weather has helped you recoup your health. Would wish you are back with us to steer RMS.
Regards
Satish Bahri

Date: 13 August 2012 17:24
Subject: IESM UNITY
Dear veterans
Veterans’ unity is most important for the welfare of veterans. This is the right time for some neutral, senior veterans to take lead and call for a meeting of like minded groups. The starting point could be:

That all groups will honour the Minimum Action Program (MAP) as agreed by all.

That all groups can keep their freedom to operate.

That any one group will not criticize other groups.

That all groups will not do any activity or issue statements contrary to MAP.

That as far as possible, groups will support each other in their programs.

That as far as possible, groups will participate in other groups’ programs like rallies and meetings and exchange ideas.
These could be the starting points and we can always put our minds together and make a MAP. We can also decide the do’s and dont's by the veterans' associations for veterans unity.
Gen SK Bahiri AVSM, VSM is requested to coordinate the effort of unity and make a sincere effort to bring all organisations together for the purpose of putting up a united fight for OROP.
We must not forget that together, veterans control about 4.5 crore votes and can influence the result of about 50 Members of Parliament and many more MsLA. Individually, we are nothing and we will keep getting beaten by the politicians and bureaucrats combine. United we can improve our Izzat and status. But if we work as individual groups, we will keep getting downgraded in our izzat and status by politicians and bureaucrats combine. General Elections of India are only two years away, the right time to act is now and show the country that veterans can rise above individual aspirations and local issues and forge unity for the welfare of veterans’ family pan India and create a lobby for themselves. Numbers are in favour of veterans but despite that, veterans have no say in policy formulation of the nation because of disunity. THIS IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE TIME TO FORGE UNITY AND DEMAND A RESPECTABLE PLACE FOR VETERANS IN SOCIETY. TO GIVE US A NAME, LET US CALL THE UNITED VETERANS AS THE UNIFIED VETERANS FORUM (UVF). This name is not final and would be decided during the joint proposed meeting of all organisations.
Soldiers in uniform are also looking towards United Veterans Forum (UVF) and expect the forum to look after their welfare. Let us live up to soldiers’ expectation and forge unity among all veteran organisations.
All organisations are requested to consider the proposal seriously and give their view point. It is suggested that this should be given due importance and a first meeting be held by 15 Sep 12. All organisations are requested to respond and give their views to Gen SK Bahiri. IESM would be happy to receive a copy of your response.
IESM will be too happy to provide the platform for veterans unity.
Regards
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM