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From: Cdr Sharan Ahuja
Date: Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Subject: Kargil Diwas Celebrations at Noida 26 Jul 2010
To: CS Kamboj
Cc: CS Kamboj
Dear Brig Kamboj Sir,
The Kargil Diwas was once again celecbrated with the same josh and enthusiasm as last year at Shahid Samarak in front of the Army Public School Noida today morning from 1100 Hrs to 1300 Hrs.
A few hundred Veterans of yester years started gathering at the Venue from 1030 AM onwards which included Lt Gen Kala fromer Army Commander from Dehra Dun / Lt Gen Guru Bakshi / Maj Gen Inderjit kashyap / Mag Gen M Bhatia / Maj Gen Sushil Nath / Maj Gen S Bindra/ Maj Gen RN Wadhera / Maj Gen Gurdip Singh / Maj Gen KP Deswal / Maj Gen VS Dhania / Maj Gen Pramod Kapur / Brig Mahalingam / Hony Capt Pande / WO Balakrishnan and many more including the Governing Body members of Maj Gen Satbir Singh /Maj Gen AJB Jaini / Gp Capt VK Gandhi / Col RP Chaturvedi / Col Kirit Joshipura / Wg Cdr CK Sharma and Cdr Sharan Ahuja.
The celebrations started 1115 hrs where in the choir from APJ School Noida including young children sang the valour songs making a tear appear in the eyes of many a veteran making the occasion solemn as intended to be to remember the brave sons of this great nation.The sky was rented with Jai Hinds under the able guidance of Gen Jaini.
The gathered veterans after paying the homage in a orderly manner at the Shahid Samarak which was manned by the school children Nehru International Public School Sec 12 , Noida got together under the Shamiana to have the delicious samosas and Gulab Jamun with chilled Limca to quench the thirst.
The solemn occasion was also used to do Prize distribution to the 3 younsters for the painting competion Nehru International Public School . The prizes were given by Gen Kala / Gen Guru Bakshi and Gen Satbir. These children are bound to remember this prize throughout their lives.
Some of the Pictures taken are attached...
(The pictures are available at the websites of “Report My Signal – Blog”, “Sanjha Morch Blog” and IESM website. Not attached with this email due to technical problem – Chander Kamboj)
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja
09811078735
Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.org
From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi [mailto:rpchaturvedi@gmail.com]
Sent: 26 July 2010 05:59
Subject: Kargil Divas-Homage at the Shahid Smarak Noda - Part 1 of 3
Homage to Martyrs was paid at Shaheed Smaarak Sector 29 Noida from 1100-1300 hrs today, Kargil Divas, 26 July.
Despite being a working day, attendance was around an encouraging 200.
Two Noida schools- Nehru International Public School (NIPS) and APJ assisted us. The former sent volunteers to assist with ushering, guidance etc and the latter with a choir that kept us singing along with melodious patriotic songs.
Some pictures are attached. We did our own photography, and the ones attached herein, with my camera, largely cover the children's activities. I am sure Sharan would soon follow up with some others.
--
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
From: Unni Tharakkal [mailto:unnitharakkal@gmail.com]
Sent: 26 July 2010 01:06
To: Kamboj Chander
Subject: VIJAY DIVAS
Dear Kamboj Sir
We just did a silent rally on the occasion of Vijay Divas. Even though under the banner of NXCC all ex serviceman from different banner participated in it.
Around 30 to 35 Ex servicemen was there. The place called Cherplassery is in Palghat district, Kerala.
(The photograph received from JWO Unni Tharakkal is attached to this email – Chander Kamboj)
... edited ...
Unni Tharakkal
From: SHARAD PARANJAPE [mailto:sharpara@gmail.com]
Sent: 26 July 2010 06:32
To: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Subject: Relief under Section 89 of Income Tax Act
Dear Chander:
Lt Col MG Kapur deserves compliments for his email regarding distribution of arrears over previous years for purposes of tax. For all of Pre-1996 retirees, at least cols and brigs who earned full retiring pension (Rs. 12825/- on 31 Dec 2005 for a colonel), these arrears and their allocation should be identical for the four previous financial years involved. If someone in this group of retirees has already figured out the year wise allocation of these arrears, and if these could be published in RMS, it will be a great help to affected veterans of respective ranks.
Col SK Paranjape.
--
Sharad Paranjape
372 Central Park West #19Y
New York NY 10025, U.S.A.
Phone: 212-316-6575
From: nirmal c khanna [mailto:nckhanna@hotmail.com]
Sent: 27 July 2010 03:03
To: Chander Kamboj; rajkadyan@yahoo.com kadyan; satbirsm@yahoo.com; kamal Dawar
Subject: Letter sent to Smt Sonia Gandhi with copies to the RM and others
Dear Chander,
I am sending you a letter I sent to Smt Sonia, RM and others. It is evident that this was not shown to any senior enough politician.
I shall be grateful if you would kindly publish it in 'Report my Signals' requesting everyone to give maximum publicity.
With kindest regards and God bless.
Nimmi Khanna
----------------
Maj Gen N.C.Khanna 32 Anand Lok ( retd ) New Delhi 110049Tel 41741320 19 Sep 2007 9818433803 Dear I am writing to you on a matter concerning the career profile of the armed forces. There is a deep sense of disquiet and unease verging on to a visible simmer of discontent and turmoil in the armed forces. This is now becoming a matter of national concern and needs urgent looking into. Since India’s independence, Yudhisthira (the armed forces), have all along fallen prey to a one sided unethical game of dice wherein they have been denied their rightful entitlements in the matter of pay, position, status or dignity. Both Bhisma and Drona, worthy political masters, have so far acquiesced in these earlier misdemeanors and still appear unconcerned. The Pandava’s after 13 years of banishment finally awoke to ask, plead and eventually fight for their rights but present day Yudhisthira, after six decades, still remains seeped in impotent patience and forbearance. The Yudhisthira’s have so far found no present day Krsna who can pull them out of this deep dungeon of humiliation and trespass. It is baffling as to why our leaders both political and bureaucratic are overlooking the gravity of the situation. On the one hand we are spending tens of thousands of crores in the purchase of the latest military weapons and equipment and on the other we have gone out of the way in demotivating the very personnel who are to man these sophisticated machines by preying upon their morale and welfare and making their career prospects so dismal that they cease to attract the kind of military leaders and men the country seeks and needs. . One has now started questioning as to the reasons behind this perversity. It is probably due to an unfounded counter productive seed of fear, uppermost in the mind of the politician, of a likely military take over. This idea appears to trigger a continuous psychosis and a perverse response that has spread over the last 60 years. After every military victory, with outside threats having subsided, the internal fears of the politician take deeper root and he unethically pushes the nation’s military deeper into the quagmire of despondency and frustration and makes the career profile equation between the armed forces and their peers in civil central government services, unbearably invidious. Today a Brig (29 yrs service) stands equated, pay and precedence wise, with a DIG, (IPS – 14 yrs service); Director, (IAS - 14 yrs service); Scientist F, ((DRDO -17 yrs service); DIG BSF (20 yrs service). This ill conceived and illogical equation runs right across the full rank structure. Similarly the promotion profile is as dismal. Against posted strength, the posts of Lt-Gens is 0.16 percent of the officer cadre while in the police DGP/ADGP it is 5.34 percent, Maj Gens is 0.4 percent as against 11.54 percent IGs in the police. The army at the same proportion as the police would be entitled to 2403 posts of Lt Gens as against the sanctioned strength of 63, and 5193 posts of Maj Gens as against the sanctioned strength of 218. Similar perverse equations exist between the other civil services and the armed forces. In matters of pay, at 17 years service an IAS officer gains an edge of 12.9 percent higher emoluments over an army officer with same length of service and at 25 years the gap increases to 17.3 percent and at 31 years, it jumps to 23.6 percent. Then there is proportionate cumulative effect of these differentials of pay, on allowance, pension and other monetary benefits. This when compounded over the full length of service, worked out to over Rs 30 lakhs at the time the Fifth Pay Commission submitted its report to the Government of India. This tantamounts to most central government officers drawing an average of Rs 8000/- per month more in their service span of 30 years, over and above their peer’s in the armed forces. These are startling and regrettable revelations and show how, without any qualms of conscience, the armed forces have been cheated of their rightful pay and position in the nation’s mainstream. The armed forces laudable character trait not to form unions or to take recourse to agitation, in self interest, has been exploited by the system to their total disadvantage. It has now become a noticeable cause of concern within the armed forces leaders as the gross invidiousness between them and the civil services, is liable to seriously affect their rank and file, and bode ill for the nations’ security. Winston Churchill had this to say “Indian Army is not so much an arm of the executive branch as it is of the Indian people. Military professionals have the duty and obligation to ensure that the people and political leaders are counseled and alerted to the needs and necessities of military life. This cannot be done by adhering to notion of the military profession as silent order of monks isolated from the political realm.” Obviously, the top brass over the last 60 decades must bear full responsibility for forsaking a sacred trust and allowing this deep downward slide. Churchill further went on to say “The Armed forces are not like a limited company to be reconstructed from time to time as the money fluctuates. ------ It is a living thing. If it is bullied, it sulks, if it is unhappy it pines, if harried it gets feverish, if sufficiently disturbed it will wither and dwindle and almost die, and when it comes to this last, serious condition, it is only revived by lots of time and lots of money.” How far are the Indian Armed forces from this last serious condition! Stephen Peter Rosen, professor at Harvard, in his book, ‘Societies and Military Power; India and her armies’ argues, that even in the case of the British, their successes against armies of India did not lay in their superior technology because Indian guns, muskets and swords were better. Philip Mason, ICS in his book, ‘A Matter of Honour’ lays the blame for this long record of military defeats at the door of politics and the type of governments that had grown up in India. The British addressed this failing, by giving military both honour and emoluments, which in turn drew the right leadership. The Indian army came to be counted amongst the very best and enabled them to expand their Empire and protect it for over a hundred years.We forget that during the Second World War, the US President had Gen Marshall as his chief confidante and advisor. He was the genius who espoused the ‘Marshall’ plan to revive the economic wealth of America’s erstwhile enemies. Similarly, Churchill had Field Marshal Alexander as his prime confidante and advisor. If India aspires to become a nation to reckon with in the 21 Century then it must build up, train and nurse its future military leaders and not tie a lodestone of suspicion around their necks and push them deeper into the quagmire of despondency. In 1947, an officer of the rank of Lt Gen was placed above an ICS secretary to Government of India, which was then the highest post for an ICS officer, Maj Gen above Chief Secretary of States and a Brig ranked above an IG of police and drew a higher pension than that of a secretary. This was in spite of the fact the ICS then was accorded a special status because, there were at that time, no elected political leaders. The present day bureaucrat, forgets that in his new role he is primarily and exclusively a civil servant executing policy decisions of the politically elected leaders, he has ingeniously usurped the politicians’ prerogative and has accorded himself a distorted inter-se precedence vis a vis the armed forces. From the preceding paragraphs it is abundantly clear that all this has come about largely because of a ‘You scratch my back I scratch your back’ collusive arrangement.
All this not withstanding, internal political squabbles have kept the politician much too preoccupied to apply his mind and attention to the dark and threatening clouds that have already cast their ominous shadows of the turbulent decades ahead. Our political arena is in the doldrums, cleaving and clawing. To our west, Pakistan is in turmoil and on the verge of a breakup. The terrorists, breeding and sprouting in a cascading pattern there, are menacingly positioned to strike eastwards after finding sanctuaries in J&K and lastly, an emerging unstructured nuclear threat from that country is very much on the cards. This aside, India is unquestionably vulnerable to the numerous termites flourishing within--- the Maos and Naxals spreading from Nepal to Chattisgarh; The ULFA and the other insurgents, weakening our Seven Sisters to the East; The numerous sleeping cells of the Al Qaeda; well dispersed, biding their time; Poverty and corruption seeping deep into our guts; And the law of the jungle pattern of existence competing with ‘organized chaos’ style of governance. Each of these is evolving its own menacingly alarming portrait of Satan. We have already forgotten that for eleven long centuries our lands were continuously under rapacious foreign rule. No other region in the world with an odd exception perhaps can claim heritage to such a deep destroying humiliation and curse. Within 60 years of gaining independence, our conduct across the board has ripened this region for being plucked once again. It is laudable to view the 21st Century as India’s century but we must not overlook the fact that at one time in the past, ours was the richest region in the world. Today we stand as vulnerable to our new found ‘Kohinoors’, and ‘Peacock Thrones’, and the ‘Som Nath Temples’ being plundered once again, as happened historically in the past, if we fail once again to sufficiently and adequately nourish and safeguard the intrinsic interests of the prime protectors of our sovereignty. It took the British a couple of hundred years to build a military might with Indian manpower, by virtue of which they expanded their Empire and kept it intact. We need no lessons to tell us as to what should be the State of our Armed Forces and how best we can speedily rectify the earlier harm caused so as to prepare and motivate them sufficiently to tackle the threats that lie ahead.I am attaching as an appendix to this letter a short note on aspects that merit specific consideration.With kindest regards,Yours Sincerely, N.C.Khanna Smt.Sonia.Gandhi, 10,Janpath,
New Delhi 110001
From: Sharath Bhandary [mailto:nscbhandary@gmail.com]
Sent: 27 July 2010 04:48
To: rajkadyan@yahoo.com; satbirsm@yahoo.com; prenjen@hotmail.com; kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in; rpchaturvedi@gmail.com; colonelrajan44@gmail.com; seekayess@gmail.com; vk_gandhi@yahoo.com; colram40@yahoo.com; raviwarsha@gmail.com
Subject: KARGIL DIWAS AT MANGALORE
My dear Veterans,
1. Mangalore,on the West Coast Karnataka, is one of the few lucky cities having a proper War Memorial, with a small garden, a lawn and two multi spouted fountains, on top of a hillock, within the city.
2. On 26 Jul 2010, at 2000 hrs, 25 ESMs and some 30 civilians, lit candles and placed Rose/Marigold flowers besides the candles, and offered prayers. Persons from Department of Sainik Welfare & Resettlement and LIONS Club, attended the solemn function.
With good wishes and warm regards,
Col Nitteguthu Sharath Bhandary,
303, Hat Hill Palms,
Dr Casmir Mathais 1 st Cross,
Bejai - Kavoor Road,
Mangalore - 575004 ( Karnataka )
From: Khushminder Sahasi [mailto:colsahasi@hotmail.com]
Sent: 27 July 2010 00:04
To: Kamboj Chander
Subject: Re: KARGIL DIVAS EMAILS RECEIVED SO FAR - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 319/2010 - (H to Z-3) - 26 JUL 2010 (USA CT)
Dear Brigadier,
I live and work in Sacramento CA USA. Col Shivinder Singh and I jointly celebrated solemn function. Lighted candles and placed wreaths at our doors in memory of our Kargil my tars
We both are from the Corps of Engineers working for Caltrans.
With best regards
Col sahasi
Dear Veterans,
Veteran Col RPC's elucidation is correct. I have a suggestion to make.
No war has been so politicised as that of Kargil Operation. BJP still calls it Vijay Diwas. As for the Congress, 16 Dec is the only Vijay Divas ( strange reason is that we did not cross the IB or the LOC in Kargil War). As Veterans we can call the Kargil War as the "Kargil Valour Day".
The reason is that the Victory was entirely due to the valiant efforts of our young Officers, JCOs, NCOs & Jawans. The entire series of battles were fought by NOT even company level sub units, but by platoons & assault teams of section level. The victory was scripted by their blood & guts; tenacity & determination; pure courage & in many cases in the face of certain death. Patriotism at its zenith! Let us remember those Valiant Soldiers, on 26 July every year, by dedicating that day to their Valour. This is applicable to the Air Warriors also.
In History, very few wars have been won, by Valour alone!!
Veteran Raman
Col (Retd) TN Raman
E5/230, AWHO Parameswaran Vihar,
67, Arcot Road, Saligramam,
Chennai 600093
KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS- 26 JULY EVERY YEAR The Kargil War commenced from early may 1999 & ended with the last of Pakistani Intruders pushed back on 26 July 1999. It caught the imagination of the people because it was the first Televised War in our sub continent. Names of places like Kargil, Kaksar, Batalik & Drass became familiar. So were the heights like Tololing, Tiger Hill, Point 4875 & point 5203. For a change, the heroes of this war also became house hold names, like Captains Manoj Kumar Pandey, Vikram Batra, Sepoys Yogendra Singh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar & many more. To be exact, 524 brave sons of our country laid down their lives with another 1,363 suffering injuries fighting the enemy. Unfortunately, the impact of this heroic struggle & sacrifice in the minds of our people did not last even a couple of years.
Our endeavor today is to ensure that the memory of the brave men must not be forgotten. The tales of their valour must be told & retold. The younger generation must be inspired to follow their foot steps, when it comes to the question of our National Security. Above all, to give a pride of place in the society to such immortal souls. This Day is not only to remember our Martyrs, but also to honour those who took part in the War.
When the Indian Army established the firm base in Siachen, Pakistan, in 1984, tried to evict it through a massive operation, spear headed by its Special Operations Groups. But, our Army could not be evicted. So, the Pakistan Army tried a similar stunt in summer 1999, by occupying the heights vacated by the Indian Army, during the previous winter. It is a common tactical knowledge to appreciate the difficulty in recapturing such heights from the enemy, that also in high altitude, snow bound areas with freezing temperatures. But, Pakistan soon realized that the Officers & Jawans of the Indian Army are made of sterner stuff. To them the Honour & Safety of their Country came first, always & every time.
Just see the last letter of Lt Manoj Pandey, written to his parents, from the war zone. “I do not know what will happen at the next moment. But, I can assure you & all country men that certainly we will push back the intruders at what ever may be the cost.” Mind you that brave man was just 22 years old.
Or, consider this from another youngster, who was in his early twenties, Capt Vikram Batra. He was code named ‘Sher Sha’ after a series of exploits in those icy heights. His slogan was ‘dil mange more’. His regret was, he could not capture more before he himself was gunned down.
Or, consider Grenadier Yoginder Singh, who was instrumental in the capture of Tiger Hill after a seven hour long battle & receiving 5 bullet wounds in the process. He was one of the lucky ones to live & tell the story.
The Kargil war was fought by the youth of our country, with pure determination, grit, guts & izzat. The pride & prestige of the Regiments they belonged to & that of our country came first & foremost. They sacrificed their today, for our tomorrow.
In the video show, you will be seeing all these & more. The action by our Air Force, our Navy dominating the Arabian Sea, our Artillery pounding the enemy positions & so on. The Gunners fired more than 2,50,000 shells, mainly from Bofors & 130 mm Medium Guns. You will also be amazed to watch our Army handing over the bodies of the slain Pakistani Soldiers with full military honours.
The missing patrol party of Lt S Kalia & the search & rescue operation launched by Air Force to retrieve one of their pilots & mobilization of one of the Battalions, (Gurkhas, in this instance) are shown, which may appear to have been filmed by some external Agency. I can assure that the real incidents were picturised later, for the sake of clarity & war history.
Do they not deserve to be honoured & remembered!! I quote Gen JFR Jacob’s tribute to the Kargil’ Martyrs:- “ The thundering line of battle standsAnd in the air death moans and singsBut day shall clasp him in strong handsAnd night shall fold him in soft wings” Julian Grenfel
“Night, eternal night, has folded our martyrs in its soft wings - ”
The end of the show will give details of our Martyrs to the back ground music of Lata Mangeshkar’s immortal patriotic song. Immediately followed by our National Anthem. Therefore, kindly wait till the end to pay homage to our Martyrs & our Nation.
Col (Retd) TN Raman
E5/230, AWHO Parameswaran Vihar,
67, Arcot Road, Saligramam, Chennai-600093
0 9840033326
044-42013210
Subject: KARGIL DAY - 26 JULY 2010
Dear Veterans,
The Kargil Day in Chennai was commomerated in two parts. On 25 July we conducted a Blood Donation Camp in our colony, which was satifactory with 24 volunteers, majority of them youngsters & ladies. In addtion, another 12 living closer to the Landsteiner Lakshmi Memorial Research Foundation, Chennai 84, directly donated their blood, to the institution.
On 26 July, we gave a Video Presentation of the Kargil War. More than 125 people, mainly civilians & their children attended the show. In simple terms, I can put it that they were simply enthralled. The entire credit goes to Veteran Col KS Chakravarthy, EME. He concised the hours of video clippings into a CD of 75 minutes of interesting episode, bringing out all effects of audio visual show. There were very few unmoist eyes at the end of the show. Well done, Sir, a great show!!
This CD will be made available to Lt Col CR Sundar, who will be projecting the same in his Jawan TV. In addtion, we are making more copies to be shown to the students of the Schools & Colleges, free of cost. We are willing to send the same to all the interested Veterans Organisations for motivation purpose. We hope that the same will be ready by the 15 August, this year.
In line below is my introductory speech, given to the audience on 26 July 2010. Please note that the speech was made kepping in mind the predominantly Civilian audience. I can assure you that this will not figure in the CD!!
Jai Hind!!
Veteran Raman
From: CR Sundar [mailto:crsundar@gmail.com]
Sent: 27 July 2010 02:56
To: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Subject: KARGIL DAY :: Madambakkam, Chennai
KARGIL DAY AT MADAMBAKKAM A public meeting to commemorate Kargil Day was organized by Lt Col CR Sundar at the Kozhippannai Bus Stop at Madambakkam. The meeting Presided over by Rear Admiral S Madhavan, AVSM, VSM was well attended by over 200 people one third of whom were ESM. Rear Admiral Madhavan in his Presidential Address spoke about the importance of observing such meetings in public so that the populace in general get to know of our deeds of valour and about our sacrifices to keep our nation safe and strong.Lt Col CR Sundar gave a detailed description of the terrain of Kargil, Batalik, Turtok and Tuloling. He describe the strategy of the Pakistanis in occupying the heights by stealth and their devious design to cut of the NH1D to Leh so that the troops in Siachin are starved of supplies. He then went on talk about the actions of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.He talked about the unusually high casualty among officers and explained that the reason for that lay in the philosophy of the Indian Army Officer to lead from the front. “Follow Me!” is the motto of OTA, Chennai, he elucidated.He expressed the desire of the Veterans to establish a War Memorial at a disused Park on the banks of the Madambakkam Lake.Brigadier Mohan Thomas talked about the terrain and the physical hardships borne by the men who fought for those 73 days in 1999. He entreated the civilians present to make themselves familiar with the Indian Armed ForcesMr. Chromepet Santhanam, a civilian dignitary expressed deep appreciations for our Armed Forces and promised that he would take up the case for our War Memorial with the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.Mr. Dhanslal, former President of Madambakkam Panchayath paid warm tributes to the Armed Forces and promised that necessary actions would be initiated regarding our demand for a War Memorial.The meeting ended with the assemblage lighting the Kargil Candles and the singing of the National Anthem.Jai Hind. For video coverage of the meeting kindly visit www.jawantvonline.com and www.madambakkam.tv
From: Brij Thapa
Date: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Subject: COMMEMORATION OF KARGIL DIWAS AT DOON VALLEY BY DEHRADUN EX_SERVICES LEAGUE ON 26 JUL 2010
COMMEMORATION OF KARGIL DIWAS AT DOON VALLEY
BY DEHRADUN EX_SERVICES LEAGUE ON 26 JUL 2010
CHIEF GUEST CHIEF INISTER UTTARAKHAND
Dehradun Ex-Services League paid tribute to Kargil War Martyrs by honouring their 40 family members. All were felicitated and presented mementos & shawls by chief guest Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in the presence of special guest Sh Ganesh Joshi, MLA. More than 700 senior veterans, ESM & families attended the Kargil Diwas.
The following announcement was made by the Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal, “Nishank”:-
In future Kargil Diwas will be celebrated as Shaurya Diwas under the arrangements of Govt of Uttarakhand.
CM announced Rs 1 Crore for erection of war memorial in commemoration of the martyrs of the State.
CM declared exemption in sale tax imposed on the purchae of vehicles by the soldiers and ESM from the CSD canteen of Uttarakhand.
C M also assured the ex-soldiers that their demand for exemption in house tax would be considered and system followed by the other states in this connection would also be followed by Uttarakhand. He assured that soldiers of Uttarakhand wi;ll pay minimum house tax.
CM assured that he personally will take up the case with Defence Minister for establishment of one training centre of Gurkhas at Dehradun as earlier there used to be three centres but at present all been shifted.
Scan copies of new paper cutting is also enclosed along with few photos of Kargil Diwas.
Detail report from the President DESL will follow soon.
Lt Col B M Thapa, Veteran
General Secretary,
Dehradun Ex- Services League
(The photographs received have been placed on the three weblogs mentioned in the email-head above – Chander Kamboj)
Subject: Article by an ex IAS offr - TR Ramaswamy
Sir, Came on net nearly 18 mths ago. He is an ex SS offr, now retd. No paper published it. Remains on e mail circuit only. Had got his contact details from Brig PT Gangadharan, spoke to him too. Dont have contact details now.
Renjen
(Note -The article was published on 4 Nov 2008, in “Hariharan’s Intelligence Blog - http://www.colhariharan.org/2008/11/fauji-bhaiyon-ko-gussa-kyon-aatha-hai.html “ - Chander Kamboj)
Subject: PAY SCALES/ SENIORITY/ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - ARMY VS IAS & IPS- INTERSTING OBSNS
We need a permanent solution to this tussle over emoluments so that
the armed forces need only confront the enemies of the nation,
Says - T.R.Ramaswami IAS.------------
From: Brig Hardip ghuman brighardipghuman@yahoo.com
Subject: Views of an IAS Offr........ Pay scales for the Armed Forces
To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in , TRUNCATED ,
Date: Sunday, 25 July, 2010, 6:44 AM
Sir,
(to T.R.Ramaswami IAS, in response to his article “Pay scales for the Armed Forces”)
Our NGO admire your guts to tackle the subject head on which no other National Spirited Indian has done.
Our NGO feels the 'wrought' is at the Lower Level in the Civil & the Civil Officers put their own interest before the interest of the Public. Since, the Elected Leaders also put their own interest in fore most,thus the 'problem' gets multiplied.
We cannot exp-act 'wonders' from the Political Leaders unless there is a compulsion at the entry level as also the 'power' with the Public, to recall their Political Leader if found below the expected level. This will never happen since the Law is made by those who are guilty of its breach / put their own interest before the interest of the Nation.
What is possible & within the existing Election Rules is 'Negative Voting' but the EC has failed to provide such a button on the EVMs. Some National Spirited NGOs have gone to the Court & hopefully we could exp-act some relief. It would be the first step towards recognising Merritt at the upper level who may enforce it it down the line.
Also, the Political Leaders in connivance with the Bureaucrats took out 'democratic teeth' of the Armed Forces during 1964, soon after 1962 shame, by introducing Postal Ballot for those posted within India, to protect their own skin. The 1962 War Report has still not been declassified.
Our NGO partially agrees with the writer, but it must be understood that the 'Soldiers, Junior Commissioned Officers & up to the rank of Major / Colonel' are the backbone of the Armed Forces. It is on their ability the Nation Wins or Looses the War unlike the Civil where it is other way around. More than 60,000 widows comprise out of this segment.
No Nation ever pays 'unskilled labourers wages to their Soldiers except India. What a shame - bigger than 1962 shame?. It is resisted by bureaucrats & not the Political Leaders. We feel apart from resolving the differences at the Officer level there is a need to look into the complete system to have Separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces since their job & consequences are not comparable with the Civil.
The remedy lies is making a 'Multi Service EC' consisting of Armed Forces, IAS & IPS so that the professional culture of all Central Services is profitably used to implement the Election Law of the Land. It is permitted under the existing Rules.
Also, the MoD should consist of professionals other than one Bureaucrat as Ad visor to the RM, who is already there. The Nation / RM deserves inputs from the 'horses mouth' rather through a non-professional since the decisions of the RM are likely to effect the 'Sovereignty of our Nation'.
Brig. (Retd.) HS Ghuman, Shaurya Chakra
President All India Veterans Core Group, Regd.
Founder Member Georgian (north) Association
Mob 09316982294.
Dear Veterans
We the soldiers of India have been tossed around and kicked below the belt for a number of years. We have accepted this situation from our politicians and babus merely because we have respectfully accepted the constitutional decree of "rule by the civilians". Its a lofty idea in an atmosphere where politicians are just, babus are considerate, judiciary is respected, police is impartial, media is not stringed and the people are not misguided. If all such conditions do not exist where is the sense in soldiers surrendering their right to be treated with respect, dignity, honour and parity with other services?
Plethora of suggestions are floating around on the problems of veterans and a decent parity of serving soldiers with ruling elite. All valid within their perspective yet no definite solutions to the travails of soldiering.
"Nip in the bud" is an old adage. We the soldiers did not bother about the cactus being sowed all around us by the constitutional masters, leaving us isolated to live in our cocoon of lofty ideals of respect for the civilian rule, respect for the constitution, respect for the judiciary, respect for the rule of law and respect for every tom, dick and harry at the cost of our respect, dignity and parity. We have surrendered our right to speak and be a part of the ethos of our nation. We have learnt only to be dictated. We have learnt not even to question the wisdom of politicians, babus and parliamentary debates that grow more cactus around us through uncanny methods. We have reached the state of being a slave institution; mute horse being mercilessly whipped by every one. We have forgotten that we are the lions even when our teeth and claws have been blunted. We have let the people forget that a lion, even on its last breath, can maul.
The fault is not with our stars but that we are underlings. We have surrendered our rights to govern ourselves. We have surrendered our right to be effective fighting machinery. We have learnt to accept the morsels thrown at us. Serving soldiers have also forgotten the rights of veterans who were once their guiding stars, forgetting that ultimately they too will be joining their band. The situation is too complex to be elaborated any more. Everyone knows where the solution lies but is afraid to speak it out.
The first echo of General V. K. Singh's statement that amendments to Armed Forces Special Powers Act is being enacted for some petty political gains, was heard last Sunday on NDTV in "We the People" programme by Barkha Dutt. It must jab the ears of politicians and babus if they understand the innuendo. The Chief on behalf of the Armed Forces has given his opinion and has perhaps tried to pre-empt the contemplated amendments to the Act. The babus will stoop to their usual methods to muffle the Chief and its upto him to show whether he is what he has shown with his first salvo at the powers that be. If future is not in his mind he can do what many before him have failed to do. Its time for someone to put the babus in their place.
Am I seeing a change in the scenario or is it a wishful thinking?
Veteran Ram Gulrajani
Administrative egotism and mischief must cease
Navdeep Singh
THE new National Litigation Policy has special significance for the defence services, particularly disabled veterans. The policy ordains that frivolous appeals would not be filed by government departments and that appeals on orders of Tribunals shall be an exception rather than the rule. Further, false and misleading pleas or technicalities shall not be espoused.
For long veterans have been at the receiving end of paper violence perpetrated by the government’s legal pundits, who, guided by a strange spirit of sadism, exhaust every single game in the book to ensure benefits do not reach the beneficiaries even when directed by higher judiciary.
To begin with, medical authorities indulge in “literal” rather than “liberal’ interpretation of rules, thereby denying benefits to disabled soldiers. They forget the “spirit” while clinging to the “letter”. When there is a court order granting disability pension, appeals and reviews are filed as a matter of routine even in cases fully covered by earlier judicial rulings.
It is not the higher echelons of governance or the services headquarters that are to blame, but the swarm of section officers, under secretaries and deputy secretaries who rule the roost. The lower-level bureaucracy with its caustic file-notings, unfortunately, runs the government.
That the new policy specially mentions “false” and “misleading” pleas shows the powers that be are aware of the malaise. Appeals are filed not out of legal necessity but because of administrative egotism – How could a petty employee win a case against the mighty officialdom?
Then comes the stage where dubious pleas are presented before the courts, which if not rebutted by a well acquainted legal brain, end in pronouncements which can hardly be termed well-rounded.
This reminds me of some cases with special reference to disabled soldiers. In Secretary MoD Vs Ajit Singh, the defence ministry is on record, stating that disability pension was not released to him since he did not have the minimum required service of 10 years. In reality, there is no minimum service requirement for disability pension and even a recruit is entitled to the same.
In the recent case of Karan Singh Vs UOI, the government espoused that the Army alone provides disability pension to its employees. The truth is that civilian employees are also entitled to exactly the same benefits. In P.K. Kapur Vs UoI the government went hammer and tongs proclaiming it had the right to fix a cut-off date for grant of certain disability benefits that had been refused to pre-1996 retirees. The case went in favour of the government since the Court was never informed that the said benefits through the same master notification had already been extended to similarly placed pre-1996 civilian retirees. The petitioner could not rebut the falsehood since he could not afford a lawyer.
It is not that mischievous elements are playing around only with the judiciary. The higher strata of governance is also not left untouched. In a speech last month, apparently prepared by a similarly inclined officer, the Defence Minster was made to “announce” with pride that the government had introduced an additional amount of Rs 3,000 as constant attendance allowance for disabled soldiers keeping in view their sacrifices. So far so good, but the humble Minister was not in the knowledge that firstly, this allowance is applicable to civilian employees too and hence has nothing to do with valour or sacrifices. Second, the concept is in force since times immemorial and even its enhancement is old news which was announced in March 2008 by the Sixth Pay Commission. Third, it is not applicable to all disabled personnel but only to 100 per cent disabled retirees.
In the past two years there have been other instances where the political executive and the top brass have been misled into announcing beneficial “policy decisions” by hiding from them the fact that the same had actually been necessitated due to Supreme Court decisions.
(Maj Navdeep Singh is a lawyer practicing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court)
Ambulance donated to ECHS SecunderabadFrom: Avula Bharath Bhushan [mailto:avulab@hotmail.com]
Subject: ECHS Secunderabad
Dear Sirs
I had missed mentioning a few details in my mail of yesterday.
Donation of Ambulance by family of late Lt Col Gev Eduljee
The Sub Area Commander Maj Gen KD Singh and other retired senior officers -Air Marshal Nair,AVM PK Mani , Admiral Pestonji and others were present . Capt Viraf and Mrs Edulji handed over the keys of the ambulance to Maj Gen KD Singh who handed it over to Col Basha the OIC ECHS Secunderabad.
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 14:34:44 +0000
.........................................
3.- Donation of an Ambulance -the most notable and very noble and heart moving gesture was made by the family of Late Lt Col Gev Edulji ( his son Viraf is a serving Capt in the Indian Navy)-The ambulance was donated yesterday 2 jul 10 at a simple function and was handed over to Lt Col Basha ( OIC ECHS -ref Photograph
Dear Veteran,
It has come to our notice that some of the lawyers at chandigarh & Delhi are misleading the armed forces officers and spinning money on 4th Pay commission anomaly case from officers. Please beware of such unethical fellows. Case is in Supreme Court. Ruling/Decision of HC or AFT is not valid.
The UOI has gone in for appeal in the supreme court against the SC Order of 08 Mar 2010..The courts are opening today i.e 05th July 2010.Depending upon its listing the case will be heard and decision given. Supreme Court's decision will be binding on all litigations in the country. There is no need to pay any money to anybody. Kindly wait for the Supreme Court decision. Thereafter RDOA will take it up for implementation. All officers are requested to have patience and donot get trapped
President, RDOA
http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/641733/
Tea with the chiefs
Arun Prakash
Posted online: Sat Jul 03 2010
The recent controversy in which General Stanley McChrystal, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, was compelled to submit his resignation to US President Barack Obama, has provoked inevitable comparisons with Truman’s sacking of the iconic hero of the Pacific war, the five-star General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, commander of the UN forces in Korea, in 1951.
In both cases, the core issue related to the supremacy of civilian authority over the military, in the specific context of subordinating military strategy to fit within the broad objectives stated by the political leadership. Both MacArthur and McChrystal were theatre commanders tasked to fight America’s overseas wars for freedom and democracy.
Both had their own ideas how to get the job done, and neither could resist going public with his dissent. The two presidents were quite resolute that the generals had to be sacked but sent them off with ample grace, not forgetting to add encomiums like “one of our greatest commanders” and “one of our nation’s finest soldiers” in their parting speeches.
All this has transpired in the world’s oldest democracy where national security issues are the subject of open, enlightened and freewheeling debate in the houses of Congress. The US president receives advice on national security issues, at first hand, from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; his current national security adviser is a retired general and, till recently, his director of national intelligence was a retired admiral.
What happens in the world’s largest democracy? Given their deep-rooted urge to emphasise the principle of civil control over the armed forces, one would expect Indian politicians to ensure that every military undertaking has a political rationale and underpinning. Oddly enough, our political establishment has flinched, not just from clearly defining national aims and objectives but also from providing guidance regarding strategic aims and end-states to the country’s armed forces leadership. Every military operation since Independence, from the 1947 Indo-Pakistan war to the 2002 general mobilisation, has been guided more by political rhetoric than strategic direction.
White Papers and open debates on national security issues are unheard of in Parliament. The sheer intensity of political activity in India makes great demands on a politician’s time. The serious and ambitious politician views matters pertaining to national security or to strategic affairs as arcane, tedious and time-consuming, best left to the bureaucracy to handle. He views armed forces personnel with a degree of detachment, as somewhat strange and peculiar creatures, and usually gives them a wide berth.
With the best of intentions, the feeling has become mutual; and over the years, a yawning chasm has developed between the armed forces leadership and the country’s political establishment. They are simply ill at ease with each other, and the civil servant serves to bridge the chasm.
Since Independence, there have been two instances where service chiefs have run seriously afoul of their political masters. In 1959 General Thimayya submitted his resignation after a confrontation with Krishna Menon, but he was persuaded by Nehru to withdraw it the following day. Four decades later, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat had a serious difference of opinion with George Fernandes, and in an unprecedented move, that shook the armed forces, the NDA government deemed it fit to dismiss Bhagwat. One wonders if the Raksha Mantri and the navy chief had been on more familiar terms with each other, and had sat down to discuss matters over a cup of tea, would this unsavoury episode not have had a less traumatic ending?
The McChrystal episode has fortuitously drawn our attention to civil-military relations in India at a critical juncture. In J&K, the army is faced with a most unenviable situation in the face of mounting public hysteria. In the Northeast and the Naxal-affected heart of India, the reluctant armed forces are steadily but surely being drawn into the dreaded maw of a domestic insurgency. The home minister has expressed fears that the Naxals may be receiving training and support from ex-servicemen (ESM). That may well be the case, but the government seems to be oblivious of the simmering resentment amongst three million ESM about their pension grievances, and the grave implications of such discontent. With the Sino-Pak axis on the ascendant, the external security situation appears equally bleak.
In a security environment such as this, one gets the uneasy feeling that communication between the politicians, bureaucrats and the armed forces leadership are not as loud and clear as they should be. In the recent Sukna Land case, and the Dantewada CRPF ambush media discussion, the layperson got the distinct impression that the defence minister and army chief were communicating via newspaper headlines.
While the integration of the armed forces HQ with the MoD may remain a distant dream, surely it is time for all national security stake-holders to sit and talk to each other.
The writer, a former Chief of the Naval Staff, is currently chairman of the National Maritime Foundation
www.express@expressinda.com
From: avtar_singh10@hotmail.com
To: kamboj@itintellectuals.com
Subject: RE: AN ARITICLE BY LT GEN VIJAY OBEROI, FORMER VCOAS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 276/2010 - 04 JUL 2010 (A to G)
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 09:22:08 +0530
Dear Sir,
Firstly I wish to introduce my self as your Subordinate SLT SD (C) at Vikrant who with your help fought accommodation case with WNC.
Secondly I on receipt of 4th pay commision report represented to DPA about the anomaly.
I was informed that when such big event takes place some one loses some one gains (an absurd justification) but my director did not want to rebut this.
You know who was my Director, It was Admiral Sushil Kumar.
Problem does not rest with MOD or Babus. It is we(our seniors) who do not take the matter seriosly.
The implication of Major Dhanpalan case does not rest at mere payment of dues, but its effect on 5th and sixth cpc.
Currently I am fighting pension case of Major and equi and I have with me 139 officers and many more who wish to join me
Regards
Avtar Singh
5-7-2010
Governments, they say, are impersonal and yet a democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. We take pride in saying that we are the world’s largest democracy. Yet, the people’s voice is largely not heard because the political leadership and the bureaucrats who advise them are so bound by rules and regulations (of their own making unfortunately) that unless they are nudged, nay shoved violently, it is difficult to change their somnambulant state.
Unfortunately, the military fraternity of both serving and retired categories seems to be experiencing the brunt of it, especially since early 2008, when the continuing and tragic saga of the Sixth Pay Commission commenced. While the commission has been hogging the headlines, there are many other important issues that also need to be highlighted so that the people, who after all are supposedly the real rulers of the country, are aware of them.
This piece is about a few inter-linked yet vastly different issues that are making military personnel very angry and justifiably so. The first is the case of the “rank pay”, where despite an elaborate and clear ruling by the Supreme Court, the authorities, ill advised by the bureaucracy, have filed another appeal! This is a farce of monumental proportions being played against a large number of affected military officers. As a case of bureaucratic pusillanimity and procrastination, this does take the cake. Let me briefly narrate the essentials.
In 1986, the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission included the grant of “rank pay” to all defence officers of the rank up to brigadier and equivalent. However, while implementing the same, equivalent amounts were reduced from the pay, by an omission or by design (both perceptions exist)! No military person noticed this at that time. This may be hard to believe but the prevailing culture at that time was that most military personnel were fairly blasé about their pay and allowances.
It was in fact considered infra dig to get in to mundane issues like entitlements, as it was a firm belief that the authorities will always look after one’s interests. It is now clear that we were really naive. The authorities in the corridors of South and North Blocks, however, had little time for such niceties! Having learnt bitter lessons after the Sixth Pay Commission, the military has now become wiser, but at the huge cost of losing confidence, trust and fair play in the government (read bureaucracy).
Reverting to the “rank pay” case, the issue came to light only when retired Major Dhannapalan discovered it, approached the Kerala High Court for redress and fought it with the unrelenting Ministry of Defence (MoD) in both the High Court and the Supreme Court, till he won the case in 2005, after nine years. However, while implementing the judgment, the MoD gave benefits only to the officer. The representations of a large number of similarly affected officers were ignored. This resulted in a flood of writ petitions, as the affected officers had no other option but to seek justice from the courts. Finally, despite the vehement opposition by the MoD, the Supreme Court ruled on March 8, 2010, that the benefit of the judgment must be extended to all eligible military officers and also awarded 6 per cent interest on the amount due to the officers.
While the affected officers were still doing their calculations, the empire struck back with an appeal against the ruling. Why is the MoD deliberately trying to deny justice to a large number of military officers? Is it a delaying tactic designed to cheat the military personnel and stall the implementation of the judgment, or a case of losing face or the fear of being penalised for a deliberate act of commission, or a combination of all three? Whatever be the motivation, the military personnel are livid on being denied their legitimate emoluments.
This also begs the larger question of the government being the single biggest litigant, keeping the courts busy and in the process preventing them from dispensing justice to more needy persons. I fail to understand the logic of the government contesting every order the Supreme Court has passed in favour of defence forces. It did so for umpteen years in the case of fixation of pension of Major-Generals. In the case of a disabled officer, Capt CS Sidhu, the Supreme Court was constrained to remark that the government treated its soldiers worse than beggars!
Dr V. Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, has recently announced the National Litigation Policy, which aims to reduce average pendency time from 15 years to three years. The policy emphasises that the government must cease to be a compulsive litigant. The Law Minister may keep making announcements and publishing policies, but will the stalwarts in the MoD as well as other ministries listen? In the meantime, the large numbers of affected military personnel continue to be deprived of their legitimate emoluments.
Let me now highlight the second and a more recent issue, relating to jobs for military personnel after their retirement. In 2004, the Directorate-General of Resettlement, as part of its drive for securing jobs for retired officers and soldiers, had persuaded the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to accept retired military personnel for running toll plazas on highways. Being disciplined and honest, they are doing a superb job and have already increased collections at the ex-servicemen-run toll plazas from the earlier 15 to 80 per cent. There are over 25,000 military veterans running NHAI-owned toll plazas, while another 10,000 provide logistical support.
Now, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to auction all the toll plazas to the highest bidder. The motive is undoubtedly monetary, while efficient running or jobs for the needy veterans do not seem to have any place in the thinking of the government! As a sop, the NHAI has stated that the toll plazas in Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern states or other disturbed areas would continue to be kept for the military veterans sponsored by the Director-General of Resettlement. How nice, but no toll plaza exists in these areas!
While the government is keen to employ military veterans to do all the difficult fighting against the Maoists, including the highly dangerous clearance of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), when it comes to giving them their dues in terms of their legitimate emoluments or jobs as part of their rehabilitation, it baulks at and panders to power and money brokers. Is this our version of democracy?
The writer is a former Vice-Chief of the Army
South Zone Military Veterans Meet
Vidhan Soudha Bangaluru, India -
Jun 27, 2010
by partha
South Zone Military Veterans Meet ,convened by veteran Col S. S. Rajan (South Zone & Karnataka State Convener IESM) was held at Banquet Hall of Vidhan Sudha ,Bangaluru on Sunday the 27th June 2010.The Meet was attended by more than 350 Gourav Senani representing not only the four southern states, but few from Assam, Delhi, J&K, Meghalaya, Maharastra & Tripura !! It is noteworthy that Hon'ble Home Minister of Karnataka ,Dr V.S Acharya had graced the Meet !!Please have the pleasure of viewing t...
..Pls Click me to see the....Bangaluru Meet on 27 Jun 2010....Photographs........................................................................................................................
Ambulance donated to ECHS Secunderabad