SCPC: March for Justice, Thanjavur on 06 July 2008

Enclosing below a report from Lt Col Jairam about the "March for Justice" at Thanjavur (Tanjore)- Tamil Nadu, on 06 Jul 2008, for your information please. May I request its inclusion in your 'Report my Signals' please.
Capt H Balakrishnan (Retd Indian Navy)
Chennai

IESM RALLY, Thanjavur held on 06 July 20081. All retired veterans from the three services commenced mustering from 0900 onwards at Thillagar Thedal which is a routine SP for non- political processions. They came from far flung villages around Thanjavur Dist and Thanjavur Township. Some widows and wives of ex-servicemen also joined the procession.
2. The previous day before the commencement of the rally a large number of reporters from local dailies were briefed on the demands of ex-servicemen and the grave injustice done to men in uniform and retirees from the three services by SPC. All local newspapers published the event and also carried out editorials of the demands of ex-servicemen on the day of rally. The local cable TV’s and Sun news also mentioned the event and showed extracts of the rally in its evening and nighttime news coverage.
3. The strength of ex-servicemen and widows who gathered at the SP at Thillagar Thedal was about 200. The lining up for the procession commenced at 0930hrs. The banners and placards displaying various slogans were positioned at appropriate intervals. The procession were preceded by four motorcycle outriders carrying the ex-servicemen league flag. The procession was flagged off by the convener, Col CT Arasu precisely at 1000hrs.
4. Three officers, Col CT Arasu, Lt Col RR Jairam and Lt Cdr TM Vaganan moved with the rally.The entire route of the rally was videographed and photographed by local press.The procession covered the most crowded throughfares and shopping areas in Thanjavur township.
5. The rally concluded at 1130 hrs at the Annie Besant Lodge which has a spacious area and houses some of the collectorate offices.The convener addressed the rallyist and thence the office bearers went to the Collector’s Office to submit the memorandum to the Collector for onward submission to the Govt of Tamil Nadu.
6. The Veterans promised to return another day and gather in even larger numbers with their families to show their unflinching loyalty to the movement and present a united front if the need arose for a similar cause.

Lt Col RR Jairam (Retd)
Thanjavur.