Date: Sunday, 17 May, 2009, 11:42 PM
Dear Colleagues,
In the wake of election results expectedly there have been a string of emails. In their tenor these have ranged from encouraging to negative. I thank all the senders for their effort and respect the right of each ESM to express his views. It is not feasible to send individual responses. I am, therefore, using the daily sitrep for the purpose.
It needs recalling that on 8 Feb 2009 we had had a mammoth rally at Jantar Mantar. That day I had announced support for Congress during elections, provided they sanctioned OROP. The announcement was reported in the sitrep that evening. The relevant extract is: “If the current government sanctions the OROP, we will fully support it during the elections. The converse was implied, though not explicitly stated.”
I do not recall receiving a single email critical of the announcement on the grounds that we were getting politicised or were aligning with a political party. It shows that some of us are mentally still in uniform. We find a high comfort level in toeing the line of the ruling regime. However, when it comes to saying anything in favour of any other party, the accusation of ‘politicisation’ ‘personal agendas’ ‘hidden interests’ etc start flowing in.
The Congress did not respond to the above call for over two months. We then issued a similar advisory in support of BJP that had in the meantime clearly committed to implementing OROP.
The IESM Core Group is not apologetic in having issued the advisory. This was the right course to adopt at that time. The Congress had already rejected OROP and the alternative to the advisory was a status quo that we have been having for a quarter century.
Our only agenda is OROP and will continue to remain so. The outcome of an election and the acceptance of that outcome in a democracy is as much part of a legitimate process as the vote or IESM advisory. None of these changes the fact that OROP remains as unresolved as ever and the task of IESM as clear as before.
Nothing has changed for the IESM. It is still as committed to OROP as before and will continue to do everything it can to pursue this issue however arduous and long the road.
As ever, IESM welcomes any genuine ESM input and will continue contacting those not on internet for their views.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Showing posts with label Election Manifesto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election Manifesto. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Veterans express discontent with political system
Date: Saturday, 16 May, 2009, 6:34 PM
Dear All,
For information.
This report was released by the United News of India on May 14. The same has been translated into Hindi and released by UNIVarta also.
Vijay Oberoi
(Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, Former VCOAS)
Veterans express discontent with political system
Bhopal | Wednesday, May 13 2009 IST
Even as the nation awaits with bated breath the outcome of the 15th general elections, veterans have struck a strident note of discontent with regard to the present political system and the leadership's non-comprehension of the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
"Perhaps a presidential system will suit us better. It need not be exactly like that of the United States, but we can evolve our own system," former Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM told UNI.
The veteran, who is also President of the War Wounded Foundation, pointed out that the greatest benefit of a presidential system would be that the elected president would be able to choose the best brains in the country to assist him in governance while elected representatives would still be there.
"We have a large number of illiterate people who do not understand the nuances of elections. We are an emotional people, easily swayed by cosmetics and pay little attention to substance. We are a federal country, but have not given adequate autonomy to the states," Lt Gen Oberoi felt.
The ex-director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies alleged that the political leadership neither understood nor made any effort to comprehend the requirements of the military.
"At present, there is no formalised system of having the military in the policy formulation loop. Unless this comes about we will continue to treat security with indifference and the military would continue to get marginalised. The effect on the security of the nation would be catastrophic," Lt Gen Oberoi warned.
-- (UNI) --
Veterans express discontent with political system
Related reading
Force divider by Gen VP Malik
Dear All,
For information.
This report was released by the United News of India on May 14. The same has been translated into Hindi and released by UNIVarta also.
Vijay Oberoi
(Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, Former VCOAS)
Veterans express discontent with political system
Bhopal | Wednesday, May 13 2009 IST
Even as the nation awaits with bated breath the outcome of the 15th general elections, veterans have struck a strident note of discontent with regard to the present political system and the leadership's non-comprehension of the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
"Perhaps a presidential system will suit us better. It need not be exactly like that of the United States, but we can evolve our own system," former Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM told UNI.
The veteran, who is also President of the War Wounded Foundation, pointed out that the greatest benefit of a presidential system would be that the elected president would be able to choose the best brains in the country to assist him in governance while elected representatives would still be there.
"We have a large number of illiterate people who do not understand the nuances of elections. We are an emotional people, easily swayed by cosmetics and pay little attention to substance. We are a federal country, but have not given adequate autonomy to the states," Lt Gen Oberoi felt.
The ex-director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies alleged that the political leadership neither understood nor made any effort to comprehend the requirements of the military.
"At present, there is no formalised system of having the military in the policy formulation loop. Unless this comes about we will continue to treat security with indifference and the military would continue to get marginalised. The effect on the security of the nation would be catastrophic," Lt Gen Oberoi warned.
-- (UNI) --
Veterans express discontent with political system
Related reading
Force divider by Gen VP Malik
Friday, May 15, 2009
IESM: Chairman's Desk
Date: Thursday, 14 May, 2009, 10:35 PM
Dear Colleagues,
The whole country is in the grip of political speculation. We the ESM remain firm in our resolve to keep OROP in cross-hairs. We will not rest till we get what is our right.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
extract from Maj Navdeeps weblog
Are we reading correctly ???
Times of India reports here that faced with a query from the Election Commission, cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar has now denied that the government has constituted any special committee for the purpose of examining ‘parity in pensions’ of defence personnel. TOI further adds that the government obviously has backtracked in face of the danger of being pulled up for violating the model code of conduct by announcing the decision bang in the middle of elections.
But here is a Congress Advertisement issued by the party on Page 12 of Punjab Kesari today and as we can all see here, it clearly talks of setting up of the ibid committee. Kindly also note that the said advertisement also directly talks not of any vague concept of ‘parity in pensions’ but unambiguously of ‘One Rank – One Pension’ in no uncertain terms.
TOI and Congress, please reconcile. Is there a catch somewhere, or is there something we are missing here ??? :-)
Brig Kiran Krishan, Convener IESM
UPA GOVT MISLEADS DEFENCE PERSONNEL FOR ELECTORAL GAINS: CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEE TO GRANT OROP
Dear Members of the Media,
1. The UPA Govt announced the constitution of high powered committee to review grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) and address anomalies of 6th Pay Commission. This was announced on 4th May 2009, three days prior to the Elections in Northern states of Haryana, Part Punjab, UP and Bihar where there is a large concentration of Defence Personnel both serving and retired. This was a deliberate attempt by the Government to mislead the Defence Personnel to gain their sympathy for electoral gain to counter an Advisory issued by Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) to Vote for the Political party who had promised in writing in their manifesto to implement OROP (BJP).
2. We at the core group of IESM are not that naïve not to see through the mischievous game of the UPA Govt knowing fully well that this action of the Government would be struck down by the Election Commission being violative of the Election Code. Therefore, it clearly emerges that the Govt was intentionally trying to cause wrongful electoral gains to themselves. The Election Commission very rightly asked the Govt to confirm the constitution of the committee. It is surprising the Govt has now on 12 May 2009 denied having constituted the committee.
3. The UPA Government has been playing a cat and mouse game with the Defence Forces and this action reveals blatant violation of all democratic norms. The grave injustice to the Defence Forces has reached an unacceptable limit and would lead to further demoralization of Defence Personnel. In all fairness the elections held on 7th May 2009 in Northern States be countermanded.
With regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Dear Colleagues,
The whole country is in the grip of political speculation. We the ESM remain firm in our resolve to keep OROP in cross-hairs. We will not rest till we get what is our right.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
extract from Maj Navdeeps weblog
Are we reading correctly ???
Times of India reports here that faced with a query from the Election Commission, cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar has now denied that the government has constituted any special committee for the purpose of examining ‘parity in pensions’ of defence personnel. TOI further adds that the government obviously has backtracked in face of the danger of being pulled up for violating the model code of conduct by announcing the decision bang in the middle of elections.
But here is a Congress Advertisement issued by the party on Page 12 of Punjab Kesari today and as we can all see here, it clearly talks of setting up of the ibid committee. Kindly also note that the said advertisement also directly talks not of any vague concept of ‘parity in pensions’ but unambiguously of ‘One Rank – One Pension’ in no uncertain terms.
TOI and Congress, please reconcile. Is there a catch somewhere, or is there something we are missing here ??? :-)
Brig Kiran Krishan, Convener IESM
UPA GOVT MISLEADS DEFENCE PERSONNEL FOR ELECTORAL GAINS: CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEE TO GRANT OROP
Dear Members of the Media,
1. The UPA Govt announced the constitution of high powered committee to review grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) and address anomalies of 6th Pay Commission. This was announced on 4th May 2009, three days prior to the Elections in Northern states of Haryana, Part Punjab, UP and Bihar where there is a large concentration of Defence Personnel both serving and retired. This was a deliberate attempt by the Government to mislead the Defence Personnel to gain their sympathy for electoral gain to counter an Advisory issued by Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) to Vote for the Political party who had promised in writing in their manifesto to implement OROP (BJP).
2. We at the core group of IESM are not that naïve not to see through the mischievous game of the UPA Govt knowing fully well that this action of the Government would be struck down by the Election Commission being violative of the Election Code. Therefore, it clearly emerges that the Govt was intentionally trying to cause wrongful electoral gains to themselves. The Election Commission very rightly asked the Govt to confirm the constitution of the committee. It is surprising the Govt has now on 12 May 2009 denied having constituted the committee.
3. The UPA Government has been playing a cat and mouse game with the Defence Forces and this action reveals blatant violation of all democratic norms. The grave injustice to the Defence Forces has reached an unacceptable limit and would lead to further demoralization of Defence Personnel. In all fairness the elections held on 7th May 2009 in Northern States be countermanded.
With regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Partap Singh Bajwa promises welfare package for Ex-servicemen
Punjab Newsline Network
Friday, 01 May 2009
GURDASPUR: Gurdaspur Congress candidate, Pratap Singh Bajwa while addressing a massive rally of ex-servicemen (ESM) at Sarna near Pathankot today promised the retired soldiers to get their long pending dues settled besides exempting the serving personnel from income tax.
He said, coming from a family that has produced many eminent soldiers, war heroes and generals, I have an intimate knowledge of their problems and can envisage solutions to them. As a people’s leader, I understand that a soldier who protects the nation and countrymen must be supported by the government in every manner possible and this is what I am promising to my soldier brothers, he asserted.
The rally was attended hundred of people from an Army background. Bajwa said, justice must be done to the ESM community by accepting their just demand for One Rank One Pension.
He further said that he would take up the case with the Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM and formulate opinion inside and outside the government to help them get this long-pending and much awaited justice.
Punjab has long been the sword arm of the country, pointed out Mr. Bajwa. However, in recent years the decreased recruitment from the state has meant that fewer young men from Punjab are getting a chance to serve their country, he rued. I will strive for the scrapping of the unfair RMP formula for recruitment to be replaced by a more fair system based on merit, fitness and acceptability of military service, maintained Bajwa.
Bajwa also promised that he would streamline the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme and also provide additional medical staff for them.
“I have already formed a panel of six eminent lawyers at the district level to provide free legal advice and aid, including representation in court for ex-servicemen. This will be further strengthened and the services extended to serving soldiers who face many legal and property problems. Besides, I will also take up the matter of opening more extension counters of CSD canteens in the remote areas of Gurdaspur with the Army authorities,” remarked Bajwa.
He said he would construct a Sainik Rest Houses for the comfort and convenience of soldiers and ESM at Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Dhar area.
Bajwa also proposed that a high-powered State Soldiers Tribunal should be set up to bring the issues to the notice of concerned authorities and resolve them.
Payment of OAP to all World War 2 veterans, provisions for payment of full salaries to all ESM working in PESCO, PSEB, bus stands and telephone exchanges as per Central guidelines and rules were some of his other promises to the ESM of his constituency.
During occasion, while supporting Bajwa in his efforts to help the servicemen, his elder brother, Brig. MPS Bajwa, YSM (retd), said that Pratap Singh Bajwa belongs to a family of soldiers and he has closely witnessed the plight of retired servicemen. What he is promising is not election agenda but something that he truly believes in and will fight for, asserted Brig. MPS Bajwa who is a war veteran of Bangladesh & Kargil war and was instrumental in capturing the Tiger Hill.
Partap Singh Bajwa promises welfare package for Ex-servicemen
Ex Servicemen League supports Congress in Punjab
Col Tihara, who had filed his nomination papers from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency as an independent candidate also withdrew his candidature in support of the Congress candidate Manish Tewari. He said, he was impressed with the policies of the Congress, particularly Amarinder Singh and Tewari towards the ex servicemen. He also appreciated the stand taken by Tewari in support of one rank one pension for the ex servicemen.
Thanking Col Tihara for his support, Tewari said, he has always been in favour of one rank one pension and he would ensure that this scheme is fully implemented without any delay or exception. He assured Col Tihara that he would ensure that the issues he has taken up for the redressal of the problems of the ex servicemen would be properly and duly addressed. He expressed his gratitude to the ex servicemen for their support to the Congress in general and to him in particular.
Ex Servicemen League supports Congress in Punjab
Related Reading
‘In India, democracy survives despite our faulty electoral system’
Comment: Tall promises for garnering votes. The Ex Servicemen remain cheated and forgotten after every election cycle. Empty promises galore!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Mandate 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
33 crorepatis, 20 criminals in fray for Delhi elections
New Delhi: As many as 33 millionaires and 20 people with criminal records will fight for Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats that go to polls May 7. "A total of 33 'crorepatis' are contesting elections in Delhi. Of 33, seven are from the Congress and five each from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Delhi Election Watch (DEW) statement Monday said.
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for BSP is Rs1.13 billion (Rs.113 crores), Congress Rs.70 million (Rs.7 crores) and BJP Rs.20 million (Rs.2 crores), the statement added.
Two candidates have declared their assets as zero, and four have declared assets of less than Rs 20,000, while 42 percent of the total candidates have not furnished their PAN card details as compared to 65 percent in 2004.
The average increase in individual assets has been 755 percent with one candidate showing a jump of over 3000 percent and most of them showing increase in three digits.
Of 160 candidates in the fray, the DEW looked into affidavits of 158 candidates and found that 20 candidates (12.5 percent) have criminal records.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded four candidates with criminal records, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded three and the Congress has given ticket to one candidate with criminal record," according to the statement.
"There are seven candidates who are charged with heinous crimes which includes murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and extortion. Amongst major parties, the BSP has fielded maximum (2) number of candidates with serious crimes in Delhi. No other major party has fielded any such candidates," the statement added.
Delhi Election Watch (DEW) is part of a nationwide National Election Watch (NEW) campaign, comprising more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen organisations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.
Source: IANS
MSN Special
General Elections 2009
33 crorepatis, 20 criminals in fray for Delhi elections
33 crorepatis, 20 criminals in fray for Delhi elections
New Delhi: As many as 33 millionaires and 20 people with criminal records will fight for Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats that go to polls May 7. "A total of 33 'crorepatis' are contesting elections in Delhi. Of 33, seven are from the Congress and five each from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Delhi Election Watch (DEW) statement Monday said.
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for BSP is Rs1.13 billion (Rs.113 crores), Congress Rs.70 million (Rs.7 crores) and BJP Rs.20 million (Rs.2 crores), the statement added.
Two candidates have declared their assets as zero, and four have declared assets of less than Rs 20,000, while 42 percent of the total candidates have not furnished their PAN card details as compared to 65 percent in 2004.
The average increase in individual assets has been 755 percent with one candidate showing a jump of over 3000 percent and most of them showing increase in three digits.
Of 160 candidates in the fray, the DEW looked into affidavits of 158 candidates and found that 20 candidates (12.5 percent) have criminal records.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded four candidates with criminal records, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded three and the Congress has given ticket to one candidate with criminal record," according to the statement.
"There are seven candidates who are charged with heinous crimes which includes murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and extortion. Amongst major parties, the BSP has fielded maximum (2) number of candidates with serious crimes in Delhi. No other major party has fielded any such candidates," the statement added.
Delhi Election Watch (DEW) is part of a nationwide National Election Watch (NEW) campaign, comprising more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen organisations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.
Source: IANS
MSN Special
General Elections 2009
33 crorepatis, 20 criminals in fray for Delhi elections
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Mandate 2009
Election 2009: Yes, there are free lunches, free TVs and free power
As per an estimate if the politicians were to deliver all the freebies that they promise, it might take as much as one third of the budget outlay for the specific sector. Free electricity to farmers might end up being a substantial chunk of agriculture budget (in case the governments decided to honour their liability to electricity boards, that is).
The Associated Chambers of Commerce (Assocham) recently issued a statement urging political parties to refrain from offering freebies to voters. “Experience has shown in the past that whosoever political parties promised free power and hugely subsidised wheat and rice to poorer sections ultimately landed in problems as it is difficult to keep such promises,” Assocham said. “The state electricity boards and food departments have suffered heavily as their losses mounted on account of free power and delivery of subsidised rice and wheat,” it added.
A retired bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu told media that the promises, if delivered, may incur one- time capital expense up to Rs. 10,000 crore; increase the State's recurring expense to around Rs. 6,000 crore annually and potentially plunge Tamil Nadu into bankruptcy in the next two decades.
Read more:
Election 2009: Yes, there are free lunches, free TVs and free power
Comment: The government is a pauper and it can offer freebies. The tax payers money goes to pay for non productive freebies! Government playing modern day Robin Hood sans forests bows and arrows! Shame on Politicians offering freebies!
As per an estimate if the politicians were to deliver all the freebies that they promise, it might take as much as one third of the budget outlay for the specific sector. Free electricity to farmers might end up being a substantial chunk of agriculture budget (in case the governments decided to honour their liability to electricity boards, that is).
The Associated Chambers of Commerce (Assocham) recently issued a statement urging political parties to refrain from offering freebies to voters. “Experience has shown in the past that whosoever political parties promised free power and hugely subsidised wheat and rice to poorer sections ultimately landed in problems as it is difficult to keep such promises,” Assocham said. “The state electricity boards and food departments have suffered heavily as their losses mounted on account of free power and delivery of subsidised rice and wheat,” it added.
A retired bureaucrat from Tamil Nadu told media that the promises, if delivered, may incur one- time capital expense up to Rs. 10,000 crore; increase the State's recurring expense to around Rs. 6,000 crore annually and potentially plunge Tamil Nadu into bankruptcy in the next two decades.
Read more:
Election 2009: Yes, there are free lunches, free TVs and free power
Comment: The government is a pauper and it can offer freebies. The tax payers money goes to pay for non productive freebies! Government playing modern day Robin Hood sans forests bows and arrows! Shame on Politicians offering freebies!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Ex-servicemen to field their own candidates in Lok Sabha polls
Thursday, March 26, 2009 : 1710 Hrs
New Delhi (PTI): An ex-servicemen's body on Thursday announced that its members will vote for parties which support their 'one rank one pension' (OROP) demand and even field its own candidates in the Lok Sabha elections to press their cause.
"We will support only those parties which support our OROP demand. The names of these parties will be announced shortly," Raj Kadyan, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) told reporters here. "IESM will also field candidates in the ensuing elections", he said.
Lt Gen (Retd) Kadyan said that over the years, all the major political parties in the country had promised to look into the implementation of the OROP demand. IESM members will continue depositing their gallantry and service medals with the President till the time their demands are accepted, he said.
"On April 12, we will deposit the next instalment of medals with President," Lt Gen Kadyan said. Officers and soldiers associated with IESM have till now have deposited over 12,000 medals with the President since February 8 this year.
Under the OROP demand, IESM is seeking that servicemen who have put equal number of years into service and retired from the same rank, should get equal pension irrespective of the date of retirement.
Ex-servicemen to field their own candidates in Lok Sabha polls
New Delhi (PTI): An ex-servicemen's body on Thursday announced that its members will vote for parties which support their 'one rank one pension' (OROP) demand and even field its own candidates in the Lok Sabha elections to press their cause.
"We will support only those parties which support our OROP demand. The names of these parties will be announced shortly," Raj Kadyan, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) told reporters here. "IESM will also field candidates in the ensuing elections", he said.
Lt Gen (Retd) Kadyan said that over the years, all the major political parties in the country had promised to look into the implementation of the OROP demand. IESM members will continue depositing their gallantry and service medals with the President till the time their demands are accepted, he said.
"On April 12, we will deposit the next instalment of medals with President," Lt Gen Kadyan said. Officers and soldiers associated with IESM have till now have deposited over 12,000 medals with the President since February 8 this year.
Under the OROP demand, IESM is seeking that servicemen who have put equal number of years into service and retired from the same rank, should get equal pension irrespective of the date of retirement.
Ex-servicemen to field their own candidates in Lok Sabha polls
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty first day
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 10:13 PM
Dear Colleagues,
A mixed force from Bawal and Gurgaon is operating the Jantar Mantar venue.
Media Report on OROP
The Pioneer has a news item Feb 16 titled, ‘One-rank-one-pension demand gets BJP support’ Click Here. It says the BJP “assured it would consider the issue seriously and include it in the NDA manifesto”. It is a positive development. However, we have been short-changed so many times that cynicism is inevitable. Noting that the Congress too had said something similar in their manifesto, “The long-pending issue of one-rank, one-pension will once again be re-examined and the satisfactory solution arrived at expeditiously”, one cannot avoid an uneasy déjà vu. It may be worthwhile having a meeting with Shri LK Advani and/ or Rajnath Singh to see through the smoke. Efforts are afoot in this regard.
Correspondence
Over the weekend, I wrote to the following (Copies attached):
Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Medal Return
Now that we have made a commitment, large number of us must return the medals to the President on 21 Feb. This has been a very effective lens-catching action so far. We must keep the pressure on.
Election Code of Conduct
The Election Commission might impose the code of conduct as early as 24 Feb 2009.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Letter sent to Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009 15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
I write this to express collective gratitude on behalf of the Indian Ex Servicemen for your espousal of our cause by raising the point in the Rajya Sabha. Our demand of ‘one rank one pension’ is a demand for equity and justice and not merely for more money. We are all responsible people, full of national fervour and patriotism. For a soldier his medals are his most prized possession. It was with great pain and anguish that we were literally pushed into returning our medals to the President. The action reflects our disenchantment with the Government reneging on the pledge made in the Congress election manifesto. We will request your continued support to our just and fair demand. It is sad that the government is not seeing the serious ramification their intransigence might have for the national defence.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Letter sent to Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
The Ex Servicemen as a community are greatly enthused by your continuous sympathy and support to their cause in the past. Having headed all the important Ministries, no one is in a better position than you to understand the various issues at national level. I approach you with a request to seek your blessings once again. You may be aware that the Ex Servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank one pension’. This is an old demand resolution of which also found mention in the Congress manifesto during the 2005 Parliamentary elections. The demand is for justice and equity. Our only request is that all pensioners who have rendered equal service to the nation should get equal pension, irrespective of the year of their retirement. Lack of this provision hurts the defence employees the most since they start retiring at an early age of 35 years at a meager penson. The Sixth Pay Commission has created a grossly inequitous situaion with a pre 1996 Sepoy pensioner getting 82% lower pension than his post 1.1.2006 counterpart does. The disparity spreads across all ranks to the extent that senior rank pensioners who retired earlier are getting lower pension that juniors who retired after 1.1 2006.
We are very hopeful that you will get us justice.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
Letter sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM,
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’, more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours. The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon’ble President and apprise her of their demand of ‘one rank one pension’, which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon’ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
Dear Colleagues,
A mixed force from Bawal and Gurgaon is operating the Jantar Mantar venue.
Media Report on OROP
The Pioneer has a news item Feb 16 titled, ‘One-rank-one-pension demand gets BJP support’ Click Here. It says the BJP “assured it would consider the issue seriously and include it in the NDA manifesto”. It is a positive development. However, we have been short-changed so many times that cynicism is inevitable. Noting that the Congress too had said something similar in their manifesto, “The long-pending issue of one-rank, one-pension will once again be re-examined and the satisfactory solution arrived at expeditiously”, one cannot avoid an uneasy déjà vu. It may be worthwhile having a meeting with Shri LK Advani and/ or Rajnath Singh to see through the smoke. Efforts are afoot in this regard.
Correspondence
Over the weekend, I wrote to the following (Copies attached):
Medal Return
Now that we have made a commitment, large number of us must return the medals to the President on 21 Feb. This has been a very effective lens-catching action so far. We must keep the pressure on.
Election Code of Conduct
The Election Commission might impose the code of conduct as early as 24 Feb 2009.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Letter sent to Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009 15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
I write this to express collective gratitude on behalf of the Indian Ex Servicemen for your espousal of our cause by raising the point in the Rajya Sabha. Our demand of ‘one rank one pension’ is a demand for equity and justice and not merely for more money. We are all responsible people, full of national fervour and patriotism. For a soldier his medals are his most prized possession. It was with great pain and anguish that we were literally pushed into returning our medals to the President. The action reflects our disenchantment with the Government reneging on the pledge made in the Congress election manifesto. We will request your continued support to our just and fair demand. It is sad that the government is not seeing the serious ramification their intransigence might have for the national defence.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Letter sent to Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
The Ex Servicemen as a community are greatly enthused by your continuous sympathy and support to their cause in the past. Having headed all the important Ministries, no one is in a better position than you to understand the various issues at national level. I approach you with a request to seek your blessings once again. You may be aware that the Ex Servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank one pension’. This is an old demand resolution of which also found mention in the Congress manifesto during the 2005 Parliamentary elections. The demand is for justice and equity. Our only request is that all pensioners who have rendered equal service to the nation should get equal pension, irrespective of the year of their retirement. Lack of this provision hurts the defence employees the most since they start retiring at an early age of 35 years at a meager penson. The Sixth Pay Commission has created a grossly inequitous situaion with a pre 1996 Sepoy pensioner getting 82% lower pension than his post 1.1.2006 counterpart does. The disparity spreads across all ranks to the extent that senior rank pensioners who retired earlier are getting lower pension that juniors who retired after 1.1 2006.
We are very hopeful that you will get us justice.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
Letter sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM,
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’, more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours. The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon’ble President and apprise her of their demand of ‘one rank one pension’, which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon’ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
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