Views by Maj Gen KS Sindhu....on OROP

Another news cutting on OROP and an email from Maj Gen Kuldip S Sindhu, Former DGR, are reproduced below.

On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank Gen Sindhu for sending this email to us.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans

Chander Kamboj.
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Hindustan Times
Epaper – May 05, 2009, Page 10
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/


UPA’s Pension Plan for Ex-servicemen

GOVT GAME FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE-RANK-ONE-PENSION
Rahul Singh, New Delhi.

AFTER TURNING down the demand for one-rank-one-pension (OROP) the UPA is making fresh efforts to woo back the war veterans . The move comes after the BJP-led coalition found support from the exservicemen after the party promised to implement OROP .
The government has constituted a high-level committee — defence secretary home sec , retary secretary (personnel), , secretary (expenditure) and secretary (ex-servicemen’s welfare) — under the Cabinet Secretary to work out a formu la to reduce the disparity in pensions by partially implementing the OROP demand.
A defence ministry source, who did not wish to be named, said: “There are currently four categories of pensioners -— pre-1996, post-1996, pre-January 2006 and post-January 2006. The intention is to have only two broad categories — pre- and post-January 2006 pensioners.” The Ministry of Defence, which initially rejected the demand, now thinks partial implementation is financially viable as it will entail an additional burden of only Rs 500-600 crore per annum. Accepting the demand in its entirety would entail a one-time burden of around Rs 4,000 crore with a recurring yearly expenditure of around Rs 1,000 crore.
However, Lieutenant General Raj Kadyan (retd), who heads the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, said: “Half-baked measures are no good. Mere setting up of a committee inspires no confidence...” A fact none of the parties can ignore is that there are around 25 lakh defence pensioners in the country — a sizeable vote bank. Ex-servicemen groups have claimed that soldiers and ex-servicemen could make around four crore voters.
rahul.singh@hindustantimes.com
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From: Kuldip Sindhu kuldip_2000_2000@yahoo.com
Subject: "Crocodile tears" by Congress - too little, too late!!
To: "REPORT MY SIGNAL (CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Tuesday, 5 May, 2009, 7:53 AM
Dear Brig kamboj,

Nature tells us two important things:

- Crocodile tears are really not tears, and that the croc is unwavering in its desire to devour. The Congress and UPA have not changed over a new leaf - they have now felt the heat of ESM anger, and realise what they stand to lose. Too little, too late!!

- The chameleon changes colours to suit the environment. Congress/UPA is attempting to do just that. Let us not be fooled by these "false tears", or these knee jerk attempts at trying to swing last minute votes.

Indeed the Core IESM committe should lambast the UPA/Congress publicly for this hollow show of support - they will withdraw later as they have done in the past. We should infact state, "where were these Congress people when scores of ESM went on a 120 day long fast and when they returned their medals"? Not one person from Congress turned up to enquire - so this backdoor entry is a sham. With the likes of Manish Tiwari, who actually represent the ideology of Congress, we cannot trust them.

Regards.

Kuldip S Sindhu

(Maj Gen Kuldip S Sindhu, Former DGR)
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THE END