Veterans under IESM banner to return medals to Prez

The following report -- released by the United News of India news agency on August 21, 2010 -- is for your kind perusal.
With regards
Abhi

Bhopal, Aug 21 (UNI) Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement Chairman Lieutenant- General (Retd) Raj Kadyan, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, will lead a delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow to deposit medals and submit a memorandum signed in blood to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil in protest against the Centre not looking after its defence forces who have been "pillars of strength" for Indian democracy.
In a letter to the President, the veteran said, "it is earnestly hoped that the Supreme Commander would relent and receive the delegation in person. However, should that unfortunately not happen... the delegation would return without depositing the medals and the memorandum."
The recent judgements of the Supreme Court, high courts and Armed Forces tribunals clearly reveal the "grave injustice, apathetic attitude and arrogance of the Government and the bureaucracy," IESM Vice-Chairman Major-General (Retd) Satbir Singh, Sena Medal, said in a release.
The fact that the all- party Standing Committee on Defence – after taking into consideration the reasons given by the Centre for not accepting veterans’ main demand of One Rank One Pension– has strongly recommended grant of OROP to defence personnel holistically in its report tabled in Parliament on May 7, proves the genuineness of their demand, he added.
"Junior commissioned officers (naib subedars, subedars and subedar majors) who are gazetted officers are equated with non-gazetted civilians, their widows left out from the recent small enhancement of pensions of JCOs and Other Ranks, no enhancement in pension to the old reservists, superannuated disabled soldiers not being included in the policy of broad- banding for Disability and War injury, non-grant of third Assured Career Progression to the sepoy, ACP award of the 6th Central Pay Commission not being notionally applied while fixing pensions of pre-January 1, 2006 retirees, the Centre not implementing judgements, the list of grievances and injustice is never ending," Maj-Gen Singh lamented.
The collection of medals and signing of the memorandum will take place at Jantar Mantar from 1100 to 1400 hrs.
"We are also trying to muster ESM from other states for this rally that will be entirely peaceful and in keeping with the military ethos," said Brigadier (Retd) Chander S Kamboj, Vishisht Seva Medal.
"If each ESM was to say that his not joining the struggle will not affect the cause, there will be no struggle, and worse our children will be struggling for the same in 2025," said IESM Governing Body Member Maj-Gen (Retd) Pravesh Renjen.