Silent Rally by ESM against SCPC held at Hamirpur (HP)

On 16 May 2008 a big rally attended by about 500 retired soldiers was held at district HQ Hamirpur (H.P.) to protest against the unfair recommendations of the 6 PC about the demands of the Ex servicemen. The rally was organized under the umbrella of district branch of Indian Ex Servicemen League presided over by Brig Dalip Singh (Retd). A large number of the participants were septuagenarians . The prominent participants were Maj Gen Bkram Sngh, Brig Charan Singh , Brig Dalip Singh (President of District Branch of IESL), CoL SKS Chambial,( Senior Vice President) , Col Punjab Singh Vrc, Col RC Sharma , Col Parmar, Hony Capt Amin Chand & a host of other retired officers & PBORS . The protesters gathered at the district ECHS Polyclinic premises at about 1100 hrs & were briefed about the conduct of the rally by Col SKS Chambial. They observed two minutes’ silence in the memory of those who laid down their lives in the service of the motherland.
Then they marched silently in rows of threes through the main bazar lead by two drummers rhythmically beating their colorfully decorated drums..

They protesters were carrying a numbers of banners like “we want justice”, One rank one pension” .etc They reached district Bachat Bhavan (main conference room of district administration) at about 1230 hrs. Here in the spacious conference hall chairs etc had been organized. The protesters were addressed by Maj Gen Bikram Singh, Brig Charan Singh, Brig Dalip Singh, Col Punjab Singh Vrc & Capt Amin Chand . The speakers briefed the gathering about the wrongs done by the 6 PC.

They emphasized the main demand of one rank one pension. As a interim measure they demanded that the retired soldiers be given pension wef 1.1.2006 on the same formula as was done after 5 PC wef from 1.1.1996 and 33 years rule be abolished with retrospective effect for all ex servicemen. This will remove injustice done by this rule to a large numbers of juniors officers & PBORS retirees. The speakers also exhorted the audience to get ready for a long drawn struggle if the government does not accept their just demands & the Committee of secretaries now in progress does not undo the injustice done to retired soldiers by 6 PC. Towards the end the protesters were served tea & snacks & then they dispersed peacefully. A memorandum was also handed over to the DC Hamirpur for further dispatch to the President of India.

Brig Charan Singh (Retd)