SCPC: Bangalore ESM March for Justice on 06 July 2008

1. The MILITARY VETERANS MARCHED FOR JUSTICE from Minsk Square (near Chinnaswamy Stadium), Bangalore, to the Vidhan Soudha, on morning of Sunday, 06 July 2008, where they met the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, and submitted a MEMORANDUM addressed to the Hon'ble Prime minister of India.

2. Military Veterans numbering 500, from all parts of Karnataka, led by Gen Narahari, Admiral Adolf Britto, Air Marshal Keith Lewis, Gen Raghunath, Gen Nanjappa, Admiral Vasanth, Commander Radhakrishnan and Air Marshal Gupta marched to express their solidarity with Military Veterans all over the Country for drawing the attention of the Govt. of India to their problems relating to pension & resettlement.

3. The Hon'ble Chief Minister said that he was indeed happy to meet the Ex-Servicemen from Karnataka and to be in their midst and expressed his gratitude to the Ex-servicemen for their sacrifice, valour & yeoman service to the Country. He promised that he would take up strongly with the Central Government, for speedy amelioration of their problems relating to pension & resettlement, while forwarding their MEMORANDUM to the Hon'ble Prime minister of India.

4. The Hon'ble Chief Minister then announced that, a grand War Memorial would soon be constructed at Bangalore, to honour our Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen who have laid down their lives, in defence of our Nation.. This announcement was received with thunderous applause & cheers.

5. INDIA GATE at Delhi was constructed by the British in memory of those brave Indian Soldiers who fought & sacrificed their lives during the First World War. And it is indeed ironic that even after 60 years of Independence, no Govt. at the Centre has thought it fit to construct a Memorial in Memory of the Brave Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who have fought and sacrificed their lives in the Wars against Pakistan and China.

6. As Convener of "Military Veterans Movement for Justice" (Bangalore Chapter), I wish to thank all Military Veterans at Bangalore and those who came from outstations, for their support, co-operation & participation in making this MARCH a grand success. I also wish to place on record on behalf of all Military Veterans, our gratitude to the following:

Air Marshal Keith Lewis, PVSM, AVSM, VM- for giving a big boost to this Movement and for his guidance & encouragement.

Maj Gen MC Nanjappa, AVSM**, YSM- for energizing the Movement and for rallying the Ex-Servicemen to join the March in large numbers.

Col GV Sreedhar- for having mooted the idea that we hand over the MEMORAMDUM to the Hon'ble CM of Karnataka; and for taking on the onerous responsibility to contact the Hon'ble CM and to get him to meet the Military Veterans. Three Cheers to Col GV Sreedhar.

Col CM Uthaiah, Director, Dept. of Sainik Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka - For his untiring efforts in projecting the requirement of a War Memorial.

Commander N Radhakrishnan, SC – a very senior Navy Veteran – for his wise counseling and advice.

Col Dr BTK Reddy- for having organized a very cordial & effective PRESS MEET.

Col Janakiraman- for meeting the Home Minister to ensure Military Veterans entry into Vidhan Soudha to meet the Hon'ble CM; and for arranging a meeting with Mr HT Sangliana, Member of Parliament, to request him to raise the Question of 'One Rank, One Pension' in the Lok Sabha, by way of Starred Question.

Sqn Ldr Mahender Singh- for his support in placing Advertisement in News Papers regarding the MARCH FOR JUSTICE.

Col AJ Bhandary and Gp Capt PS Mathur- for being ever ready to give a helping hand.

Colonel (Veteran) SS Rajan