Forgotten Kargil
Shishir Gupta
Posted online: Wednesday, May 06, 2009
New Delhi : Learning the hard way, the Indian politician has now realized that wars and terror attacks cannot be used as an opposition stick to beat the incumbent. Congress used it in Kargil and lost the 1999 elections to NDA and the BJP lost Delhi Assembly elections by using 26/11 to bludgeon the UPA.
Both the main stream parties have now realized that Indians have an uncanny habit of uniting in wake of an internal security crisis and equate legitimate criticism to sleeping with the enemy. Hence, a suitably chastened politician on both sides has made national security an issue without frontly attacking each other on the two major upheavals in the past. Little wonder the LS 2009 political campaign has fallen back on bread and butter issues such as economy and governance.
Much as we Indians like to don Bollywood style patriotism, mounting internal security threat to the country cannot be swept under the carpet purely on the grounds that it does not make a political issue.
The huge gap between Indian capacity and its response as illustrated during Kargil and 26/11 makes the citizens all the more vulnerable. But have we learnt a lesson from these historical blunders? The answer is a flat no.
Exactly a decade ago, on May 3, 1999, a patrol of III Punjab battalion of the Indian Army for the first time sighted 3-4 Pakistani intruders dressed in black in Yaldor area of the Kargil sector. On May 9, 1999, the Intelligence Bureau, according to Army records, identified them as the Taliban and two days later Operation Vijay was launched.
Although the then Defence Minister (like Home Minister in 26/11) went public saying that intruders would be thrown in hours, it took the might of Indian military to evict the intruders in 45 days at the loss of nearly 600 precious lives.
Many a corrective measures were taken post Kargil with Groups of Ministers looking into various aspects of national security reforms on the basis of Subrahmanyam Committee report.
One such group, headed by Rajiv Gandhi’s Minister of State for Defence Arun Singh, looked into the critical aspects of higher defence management and came up with radical solutions to reform the military. It is a shame that ten years down the line, the political leadership has only taken half-baked measures to reform the defence establishment. This half-hearted response was partly responsible for 26/11.
Consider this:
The Arun Singh Committee had recommended creation for Chief of Defence Staff, a single point military advisor to the Indian government, with an integrated headquarters functioning under him. Thanks to the phobia of a military takeover since the days of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the CDS has not been appointed to date but an orphan integrated services headquarter has been set up that is headed by an over the hill three star officer. And the Chiefs of Staff meeting are reduced, as always, to coffee break sessions.
It was decided that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s 50 odd laboratories would be synergized with Defence PSUs in order to allow faster provider-consumer response and transfer of technology. In simple terms the DRDO’s LRDE lab would be merged with BEL PSU so that there is dedicated development of military related electronics under specific time schedules. A rather uninterested government could not contain the turf war between the DRDO and the PSUs and the result is that the DRDO has literally produced nothing more than Leh Berry juice and grown cauliflowers in Ladakh desert. All the major projects from LCA to Main Battle Tank to Missiles have gone into overruns at humungous costs with little or no accountability from either the DRDO or the PSUs.
An umbrella Defence Intelligence Agency was set-up under the integrated headquarters as a single window for military intelligence. Today, the DIA is virtually a garbage collector of all non-actionable intelligence originated from the intelligence wings of the three services, which have grown in size and manpower since Kargil, respectively. This manifested in the Indian Navy not sharing the intelligence on 26/11 LeT ship with its own Western Navy what to talk of the Coast Guard.
The higher defence management group had also recommended that Commander-in-Chiefs in the three services should be selected on merit with the board under the CDS having a final say rather than on the basis of seniority and residual service. Thanks to its non-implementation, the C-in-Cs are even today appointed at the whim and fancies of either the Service Chief or an intrusive Defence Minister.
Last but not the least, the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services was to be put under CDS to streamline the health services. However, till today, the Ministry of Defence has held that order under ambiguous abeyance. The result is that the top military medic does not report to the integrated headquarters but to Defence Ministry. This leads to politicians like Arjun Singh frequently getting admitted to military facilities like R & R hospital in Delhi.
Kargil is gone so are heroes of that war. To make the matters worse even the lessons have been either been largely ignored or unlearnt with every passing day. With India so engrossed in this month long election mela, the ogre of Taliban raising its head in Buner and Swat is largely confined to TRPs of TV channels.
The insularity of national security from national politics has ensured that we even forget that the first flag of Wahhabism of the kind practised by current day Taliban against the ruling British in the 19th century was raised at Buner, Swat and Malakand by Indians from Bihar and Bengal.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
India's Fauj by Maj Gen SG Vombatkere
INDIA’S FAUJ
Who rules it?
By
Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere (Retd)**
Many people agree in private but (especially those in power) refuse to admit in public that the Indian Defence Forces comprising the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (or, briefly, India’s “fauj”) are not treated fairly by government. Of course, there is the fringe opinion that the fauj lives in luxury and is even overpaid, when they observe things like availability of canteen facilities (especially liquor) and the period of leave admissible in a year. They obviously know nothing at all about the risks and hardships that Jawans and young officers face in daily life.
But what risk does the fauj face in peacetime? Actually the word “peacetime” used as the antonym of “wartime” is quite inappropriate, because even if India is not at war with any country, the conditions of service in countering insurgency are just as risky as any wartime deployment if not actually more so. Today, the fauj loses on average one man every day to militant action. And hardship? Even if the subhuman conditions of mere survival on the Siachen Glacier are omitted, there are severe hardships, both physical and mental, in manning posts on the borders and even in participation in military exercises from bases in “peace stations”.
The fauj consists of about 1.4 million personnel below officer rank (PBOR), with leadership provided by about 50,000 officers instead of 65,000 required, the greatest shortage (11,238 against 46,615 sanctioned) being in the army. The actual fighting is done by the PBOR but under the leadership of officers who, in the Indian fauj, have always led from the front, as statistics of officer versus PBOR casualties in operations have always shown. But without PBOR there would be no need for officers and without leadership, PBOR would be ineffective – it is the combination of the two with the right kind of weaponry, equipment, training, and motivation that can maintain India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, the primary responsibility of the fauj. It is said that the man behind the gun is at least as important as the gun itself, which means to say that superior military technology by itself may win battles but cannot win wars unless the fauji (the soldier, a generic term that includes PBOR and officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force) is adequately equipped, trained and motivated. The examples of the US military in Vietnam and in Afghanistan and Iraq bear testimony to this military truth.
The important factor is that of motivation. It is not easily comprehensible to a civilian that motivation is essential to a fauji to fight when ordered and risk life or serious permanent disability. Motivation comes from a combination of regimental spirit, confidence in leadership and training, and most importantly from self-esteem that comes from the way in which the fauji is treated within the service and also outside in “civvy street”, both when in service and after retirement. Here, “treated” means and includes how much he is paid, what perks he receives and how he is treated by government officials when he is on duty and on leave in official and personal dealings. When the present writer was a young officer in the 1960s, a letter to the DC requesting expeditious disposal of a Jawan’s application was sometimes honoured. The need for such a letter itself showed that disposal of faujis’ applications received little attention, but at least a young officer’s letter received some attention. However in the 1990s, even personal meeting with civilian officials when I was much senior in rank (again not requesting a favour but only for just disposal) did not have much effect. This demonstrates how bureaucrats’ treatment of faujis has deteriorated over the years. This is not to say that all bureaucrats are insensitive to the fauj, since there are notable exceptions, but they are few and far between. So, the deterioration is not merely at individual levels, but is at system level.
This is borne out by some cases that I handled when I was Additional DG in charge of Discipline & Vigilance at Army HQ in the 1990s, and which will bear quoting as examples. In July 1995, Lt Bhaduria who visited the office of DC Bomdila in connection with a court case, sought appointment with the DC from the PA who asked him to come later, and when he came later, was indifferent and then rude, declining to give an appointment. Later, he was shouted at by the DC because he had told the DC’s PA to speak with due respect, and when he tried to explain the matter to the DC, he was ordered to leave the DC’s office and was served with an order fining him Rs.1,000 and in default, simple imprisonment of one month. Whether this case was resolved or not, it is quoted to show the attitude of bureaucrats and even their minor functionaries towards faujis. The firing by police at unarmed army leave personnel (resulting in death of two Jawans) at Lumding railway station in June 1993, and the kidnapping and murder of two children of a Havildar at Golconda in January 1994, both widely reported in the media, and the devious and delaying action by bureaucracy and police in both cases further demonstrate their attitude. It is too easy to blame senior officers in the fauj for not taking up these cases forcefully, but the sense of justice and national interest among the “steel frame” has never been to the extent that they would hold one of their own clan guilty. These cases and others taken up with state and central governments bear witness to the low esteem in which bureaucrats hold the fauj in general. This cannot be in the national interest. (Details of the three cases as recalled are below).
What is not understood by bureaucrats is that such treatment of faujis, far from merely causing them hardship, actually demotivates them. Today the Jawan knows that his officer can do little for him in his personal affairs as shown in the above cases. Thus the leadership of the fauji officer is limited to the four walls of the Army Act (or Navy or Air Force Act) and even this is eroded when government summarily dismisses a Chief of Staff. This is not to say that the cabinet is not supreme – it is, and should remain so – but it is to regret the lack of understanding of leadership issues as they concern the fauj at the highest political and bureaucratic levels, since Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat could just as easily have been discreetly ordered to resign rather than crudely dismissed, with negative repercussions on fauji morale.
The latest in the series of insensitive handling of matters fauji is the 6th CPC. While it is not the argument that salary is the most important cause to bring youth into the fauj or cause for officers leaving it as soon as convenient, it cannot be denied that it is a very important factor. When the single largest component of government servants is the fauj, repeated requests of various Service Chiefs over the decades to include a fauji as member in the Central Pay Commission have systematically been ignored or denied on the pretext that other sections of government servants will demand representation. The questions here are why should there not be representation of various sections, and why should bureaucrats represent everybody. It does not require superior intelligence to understand that is how bureaucrats retain hold of power and control in the country to the exclusion of other sectors. While it is true that the fauj must remain under civilian control, this must mean under control of the Cabinet and not under bureaucratic control, as it happens in practice.
We thus come to the oft repeated equivalence of faujis with bureaucrats. But before that, consider the “sub-bureaucratic” levels. Bureaucrats and politicians do not recognize that the PBOR fauji is a skilled worker, trained in a specialist job, exposed to hardship and risk far more than any civilian is expected to do as part of his duty. Thus he receives salary and pension less than a Grade IV employee and is treated shabbily by the civilian hierarchy, even though he is the backbone of the fauj and retires even before he is age 40 because of the necessity of keeping the fauj physically fit. Reverting to the officer cadre, fauji officers are equated with bureaucracy based upon salary. 90% of fauji officers do not pass the pay scale of Colonel, and a Brigadier with 24 years military experience is “equivalent” to an IAS man with 14 years of service, who is age-wise on par with a Lt Col under his command. Also, a Major General with 32 years of service becomes equivalent to a Joint Secretary years junior in age and service. Additionally, a point routinely (and may I suggest, deliberately) glossed over by bureaucracy is that only 1.5% of officers attain the rank of Major General because of the vitally necessary pyramidal structure of the fauj while 80% of bureaucrats become Joint Secretaries. These are all demotivating factors that insidiously affect functioning of the fauj in its internal command and control. It cannot be in the best interest of the nation if the guardians of its territorial integrity and sovereignty are treated with injustice to keep them inferior in status.
The question that arises here is what is the responsibility of the elected executive and the highest legislative body in safeguarding the interests of the nation by allowing bureaucratic control over an important body like the CPC? If bureaucracy is primarily responsible in this continuing injustice, then we need to ask whether the national interest is decided by bureaucrats or by the elected representatives of the people. What is needed for a start is pay and allowances to faujis de-linked from bureaucratic equivalence, in full recognition of the services that they render and the supreme sacrifice that they are expected to make, especially at the PBOR and junior-to-middle-rung officer levels, and “one-rank-one-pension” for retired faujis. Mollifying a few dozen generals, admirals and air marshals at the top by equating their salary with top bureaucrats cannot compensate for gross injustice done to the majority at the bottom of the pyramid.
The fall in the formal status of the fauj over the years is indicated by the falling order of precedence accorded to the Service Chiefs over the years. This fall in status of the top-most officers translates down to the lowest levels, resulting in lowered morale and self-esteem which are essential for a fauji to be effective in operations. There exists a kind of political blindness especially considering that while the militaries of neighbouring countries have been interfering in their nation’s politics, our fauj has remained apolitical as it should. It is vital for the long-term survival of India as a nation under the Constitution of India for the leaders at centre and state levels to recognize that on an average, some component of the fauj has been called to perform its secondary role in aid to civil power at some place in India once in four days (4 days), and ponder over why this should be necessary if bureaucracy and police perform their primary tasks. By its composition and performance record, the fauj is the last bastion of discipline and secularism in India that our leaders can only neglect, or worse still erode, at great peril to the nation.
(1,896 words of text)
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Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in December 1962 and held the position of Addl DG (Discipline & Vigilance) at Army HQ, New Delhi, from which he retired in September 1996. In 1993, the President of India awarded him the Visishta Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished services rendered in Ladakh.
Contact details:
475, 7th Main Road // Vijayanagar 1st Stage // Mysore-570017
Tel: 0821-2515187 E-mail: sgvombatkere@hotmail.com
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THREE CASE STUDIES
CASE STUDY 1
ILL TREATMENT OF AN ARMY OFFICER BY DC BOMDILA AND HIS STAFF
Lt Bhadauria and Capt Kapte, both of an infantry unit visited the DC's office at Bomdila in connection with a court case in July 1995 and approached the PA to the DC for an appointment with the DC. The PA asked the offrs to come after the lunch break, which they did. On requesting again for the appointment with DC the PA behaved in an indifferent manner and asked them to wait further. Bomdila is a hill station and since the weather was getting cloudy and the officers were to return to their unit, they once again requested the PA after about an hour for an early appointment with the DC. But the PA was very rude and used derogatory remarks to the effect that he was not a servant of army persons. Lt AS Bhadauria was agitated with such remarks and asked the PA to mind his language. Capt Kapte intervened to end the altercation. However, both the officers heard the PA saying to another person that he would ensure that the case file did not move easily.
Just before the office closed, the officers were called into the DC’s office. As soon as Lt Bhadauria entered the DC's office, the DC shouted at him, asking how he had dared to teach manners to his PA and whether it was the responsibility of the army to ensure discipline and etiquette of his staff. At this Lt Bhadauria tried to explain what had transpired between him and the PA. However, the DC refused to listen to him and asked him to leave his office, adding that he cared little for army persons and that he normally allowed only officers of the rank of Colonel to enter his office. Lt Bhadauria found it difficult to digest the insulting and derogatory remarks about the army, and suggested to the DC to speak in a manner befitting his position and office. At this stage, Capt Kapte intervened and instructed Lt Bhadauria to leave the office and wait outside.
The DC subsequently handed over to Capt Kapte an order passed by him fining Lt Bhaduaria Rs.1,000/- failing which he was to undergo simple imprisonment of one month. Capt Kapte approached the DC the next day and requested him to reconcile the issue. But the DC refused to reconsider the issue or discuss the subject any further.
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CASE STUDY 2
FIRING AT ARMY PERSONNEL BY POLICE
On the night of 23/24 June 1993, an Army party of about 175 personnel, proceeding on leave/temporary duty was travelling by Kamrup Express from Dimapur to Guwahati. At about 9:340 P.M, when the train arrived at Lumding Railway Station, four personnel of the Excise Department and GRPF entered the Army compartment to carry out search of the personnel. The Army personnel, after disclosing their identity, requested the Excise Department personnel and the GRPF that the search be carried out either in the presence of Military Police or Senior Police Officials. The Excise staff did not agree to this, and they insisted on carrying out the search forcibly with the help of GRPF Jawans. This led to an altercation. GRPF called for reinforcements and began wielding their lathis on the soldiers who had gathered on the railway platform. The Army soldiers, who were unarmed, were completely surprised and shocked at this behaviour of GRPF personnel. They tried to protect themselves from the lathis, and a scuffle ensued, and Nb Sub Randhir Singh received a lathi blow on his head.
As the scuffle/lathi charge continued, some personnel of the Assam Police, who had occupied two rooms of the First Class Waiting Room located opposite the Army compartment, opened fire with their weapons. On hearing the sound of firing, the Army personnel ran into the bogies for safety. Nb Sub Randhir Singh was again injured by a bullet in his right leg, while rushing into the compartment. Soon thereafter a long whistle was sounded which was followed by switching off the lights in the Railway Station.
The Police personnel then came out of the Waiting Room, closed in on to the bogie which was checked earlier by the Excise personnel and continued firing. One of the policemen smashed the windowpane of the compartment of the bogie with his rifle butt and pointed his weapon at L/Nk Ilangovan. Though he pleaded his innocence, the policeman fired at him twice at point blank range, resulting in his death. L/Nk Jeet Singh, who was sitting in the same bogie received four bullet wounds on his legs while he was trying to climb onto an upper berth to save himself from the police firing. In the adjacent bogie, Rfn Vikram Singh died on the spot and Nk Hira Singh received bullet injuries on his legs.
On-the-Spot Inquiry.
An On-the-Spot Inquiry was conducted by SDM, Hojai, corroborating the details of the incident as related above. Twenty-six bullet marks were identified on the Military compartment.
Departmental Inquiry by the Army.
Station Headquarters, Dimapur, ordered a Court of Inquiry mainly to ascertain attributability of death and injury to Army personnel, and the Inquiry was completed in September 1993.
First Joint Inquiry.
The Governor and the Chief Minister of Assam were informed about the high-handedness, the unprovoked firing and excessive use of force by Assam Police on unarmed Army personnel. A Joint Inquiry headed by Shri Mishra, the Commissioner of Upper Assam Division, Jorhat as Chairman, and Brig Virender Kumar as the Army member, was ordered by Govt of Assam in August 1993. However, the Commissioner avoided meeting Brig Virender Kumar and insisted that he forward the Army's findings of the incident. This was not provided to the Chairman by the Army as premature disclosure of the Army's findings might lead to finalization of the findings of the Joint Inquiry without affording fair chance to the Army member to cross-examine the witnesses. Since the Inquiry was not progressing due to the uncooperative attitude, particularly of the Chairman, a case was taken up with Govt of Assam.
Second Joint Inquiry.
As a consequence, the earlier Inquiry ordered was cancelled, and a fresh Inquiry was ordered by the State Government in April 1994 with Shri Carae, IAS, Commissioner North Assam Division, Tejpur, as Chairman, and Brigadier Virender Kumar as member. It was decided that comments on the incident be prepared separately by the Army and Civil authorities. The Army member prepared his comments and forwarded them to the Chairman during October 1994. The Chairman was requested to forward the civil version of the incident to the Army, which he refused, also saying that the Government of Assam had not agreed to the separate findings of the Joint Inquiry. The Chairman was again approached by Army authorities in January 1995 regarding progress of the Inquiry. During discussions it came to light that the State Govt had not accepted the Army version. The Army authorities again contacted the Chief Minister during February 1995 for early action on the Inquiry.
Third (One-Man) Inquiry.
In February 1995, the Second Joint Inquiry mentioned above was dissolved and a One-man Inquiry under Shri Kubilan, IAS, Development Commissioner, was instituted by the State Govt in March 1995, requiring that the Inquiry be completed within 30 days. The Inquiry by the State Government of Assam had not even commenced even after nearly 2 years of the incident. With a view to obtain early and appropriate justice to the soldiers, the case was forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for onward submission to NHRC in June 1995. The Ministry of Defence, instead of forwarding it to NHRC, referred the case to Ministry of Home Affairs asking them about the desirability of referring the complaint to NHRC. This action of the Ministry of Defence was against natural justice since the complaint was against an organ of the Ministry of Home Affairs itself. Accordingly, the Adjutant General addressed a DO letter to the Defence Secretary, requesting that the complaint be forwarded to NHRC at the earliest, but there was no response from Ministry of Defence. In the meantime, the Third (One-man) Inquiry Committee forwarded its recommendations to the Govt of Assam, recommending action against one Excise Inspector, one Platoon Commander and two constables of the Assam Police, and compensation of Rs.2 lakhs each to the Next of Kin of the two Jawans killed and Rs.1 lakh each to four Jawans injured. However, implementation of the recommendations is not known.
The Army expected and hoped that justice would be done by the Civil Administration and Police to identify the police personnel who fired and killed/wounded unarmed Army personnel, and taking strict criminal action taken against them. However, there had been deliberate prevarication by the bureaucracy of the State of Assam. Army personnel are increasingly of the view that in dealings with civil administration, they are always at a disadvantage and that this is part of the attitude of Civil Administration and/or the Police Forces in general. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment in this regard, which makes the secondary-role deployment of Army units difficult on tasks which are the primary responsibility of the Police Forces. At the same time, defaulters among Army personnel deployed in counter insurgency operations, other aid to Civil power as well as incidents involving other authorities like Police, Railways, etc., are brought to book and punished expeditiously, while little or no action is taken against police personnel involved even in serious cases.
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CASE STUDY 3
INCIDENT OF KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF ARMY CHILDREN AT GOLCONDA, HYDERABAD
Two children of Havildar Rawat of an infantry unit stationed at Golconda were found missing on 31 January 1994. After carrying out a search of the unit and adjoining areas, the unit lodged a FIR with the Langar Houz Police Station. There was a difference of opinion between the Army and the Police regarding the case being registered as one of kidnapping or of missing persons. The Army suspected the hand of a Police Sub-Inspector and his brother in the kidnapping, and this was brought to the notice of the police. A couple of days later, the unit was informed that the mutilated bodies of the two children were found floating in a well behind the Golconda Military Hospital. Postmortem examination of the deceased children was conducted by the civil authorities, and later again by Army authorities. The results of the Postmortem examinations were not in agreement with each other regarding the cause of death.
On seeing the mutilated condition of the bodies of the children, the sentiments of the unit persons were aroused and a few personnel of the unit rushed to the Police Station. Altercations and a scuffle took place, resulting in a few policemen getting injured. A little later, some houses in the civil area adjoining the Army Lines caught fire, which was brought under control with the help of army personnel.
A Joint Inquiry Committee (JIC) with Army and Police members was ordered by the Govt of Andhra Pradesh, and its report was submitted in March 1994. The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh held a meeting of Civil and Army officials soon after, to discuss the JIC Report, and the recommendations of the JIC Report were accepted. It was agreed that disciplinary action would be taken against the errant police officials, the Army authorities would take disciplinary action against errant army personnel, and that the case of kidnapping and death of the children and the incident of fire to the civilian houses would be handed over to the CBI for investigation.
Action against Police Personnel
The Joint Inquiry Committee blamed some police personnel for various lapses and recommended departmental disciplinary/administrative action against one DCP, one ACP, four policemen, one Fire Officer and the Medical Officer of Osmania Hospital who carried out the postmortem examination of the two children. On Army’s persistent requests regarding the action taken against the indicted persons, the State Govt stated that one ACP and three policemen had been warned to be careful and guard against such lapses in future, one policeman was awarded censure, and instructions had been issued for action to be taken against the Fire Officer by the concerned Department. It is noteworthy that the Civil authorities had used the word "lapses" when the acts were of a criminal nature, and the punishments awarded were not commensurate with the serious nature of the crimes. It also appeared that no action was contemplated taken against the other two indicted persons, namely the DCP and the Medical Officer.
Action against Army Personnel
On the other hand, the action taken against army personnel involved was comprehensive and fast.
(a) Officers: Lt Col Katkar and Maj Sethi were awarded Reproof.
(b) JCOs: Sub Maj Prem Singh, was awarded Severe Reprimand.
(c) ORs
(i) Nk Govind Singh Awarded Severe Reprimand
(ii) Nk Kushla Nand Awarded Severe Reprimand
(iii) L/Nk Sujan Singh Awarded Reprimand
(iv) L/Nk Kamal Singh Awarded Reprimand
(v) L/Nk Than Singh Awarded Reprimand
(vi) L/Nk Hukam Chand Awarded Reprimand
(vii) L/Nk Dalvir Singh Awarded Reprimand
(viii)Rfn Ghanshyam Awarded 14 days detention
(ix) Rfn Manwar Singh Awarded 07 days RI(rigorous imprisonment)
(x)
...
Who rules it?
By
Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere (Retd)**
Many people agree in private but (especially those in power) refuse to admit in public that the Indian Defence Forces comprising the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (or, briefly, India’s “fauj”) are not treated fairly by government. Of course, there is the fringe opinion that the fauj lives in luxury and is even overpaid, when they observe things like availability of canteen facilities (especially liquor) and the period of leave admissible in a year. They obviously know nothing at all about the risks and hardships that Jawans and young officers face in daily life.
But what risk does the fauj face in peacetime? Actually the word “peacetime” used as the antonym of “wartime” is quite inappropriate, because even if India is not at war with any country, the conditions of service in countering insurgency are just as risky as any wartime deployment if not actually more so. Today, the fauj loses on average one man every day to militant action. And hardship? Even if the subhuman conditions of mere survival on the Siachen Glacier are omitted, there are severe hardships, both physical and mental, in manning posts on the borders and even in participation in military exercises from bases in “peace stations”.
The fauj consists of about 1.4 million personnel below officer rank (PBOR), with leadership provided by about 50,000 officers instead of 65,000 required, the greatest shortage (11,238 against 46,615 sanctioned) being in the army. The actual fighting is done by the PBOR but under the leadership of officers who, in the Indian fauj, have always led from the front, as statistics of officer versus PBOR casualties in operations have always shown. But without PBOR there would be no need for officers and without leadership, PBOR would be ineffective – it is the combination of the two with the right kind of weaponry, equipment, training, and motivation that can maintain India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, the primary responsibility of the fauj. It is said that the man behind the gun is at least as important as the gun itself, which means to say that superior military technology by itself may win battles but cannot win wars unless the fauji (the soldier, a generic term that includes PBOR and officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force) is adequately equipped, trained and motivated. The examples of the US military in Vietnam and in Afghanistan and Iraq bear testimony to this military truth.
The important factor is that of motivation. It is not easily comprehensible to a civilian that motivation is essential to a fauji to fight when ordered and risk life or serious permanent disability. Motivation comes from a combination of regimental spirit, confidence in leadership and training, and most importantly from self-esteem that comes from the way in which the fauji is treated within the service and also outside in “civvy street”, both when in service and after retirement. Here, “treated” means and includes how much he is paid, what perks he receives and how he is treated by government officials when he is on duty and on leave in official and personal dealings. When the present writer was a young officer in the 1960s, a letter to the DC requesting expeditious disposal of a Jawan’s application was sometimes honoured. The need for such a letter itself showed that disposal of faujis’ applications received little attention, but at least a young officer’s letter received some attention. However in the 1990s, even personal meeting with civilian officials when I was much senior in rank (again not requesting a favour but only for just disposal) did not have much effect. This demonstrates how bureaucrats’ treatment of faujis has deteriorated over the years. This is not to say that all bureaucrats are insensitive to the fauj, since there are notable exceptions, but they are few and far between. So, the deterioration is not merely at individual levels, but is at system level.
This is borne out by some cases that I handled when I was Additional DG in charge of Discipline & Vigilance at Army HQ in the 1990s, and which will bear quoting as examples. In July 1995, Lt Bhaduria who visited the office of DC Bomdila in connection with a court case, sought appointment with the DC from the PA who asked him to come later, and when he came later, was indifferent and then rude, declining to give an appointment. Later, he was shouted at by the DC because he had told the DC’s PA to speak with due respect, and when he tried to explain the matter to the DC, he was ordered to leave the DC’s office and was served with an order fining him Rs.1,000 and in default, simple imprisonment of one month. Whether this case was resolved or not, it is quoted to show the attitude of bureaucrats and even their minor functionaries towards faujis. The firing by police at unarmed army leave personnel (resulting in death of two Jawans) at Lumding railway station in June 1993, and the kidnapping and murder of two children of a Havildar at Golconda in January 1994, both widely reported in the media, and the devious and delaying action by bureaucracy and police in both cases further demonstrate their attitude. It is too easy to blame senior officers in the fauj for not taking up these cases forcefully, but the sense of justice and national interest among the “steel frame” has never been to the extent that they would hold one of their own clan guilty. These cases and others taken up with state and central governments bear witness to the low esteem in which bureaucrats hold the fauj in general. This cannot be in the national interest. (Details of the three cases as recalled are below).
What is not understood by bureaucrats is that such treatment of faujis, far from merely causing them hardship, actually demotivates them. Today the Jawan knows that his officer can do little for him in his personal affairs as shown in the above cases. Thus the leadership of the fauji officer is limited to the four walls of the Army Act (or Navy or Air Force Act) and even this is eroded when government summarily dismisses a Chief of Staff. This is not to say that the cabinet is not supreme – it is, and should remain so – but it is to regret the lack of understanding of leadership issues as they concern the fauj at the highest political and bureaucratic levels, since Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat could just as easily have been discreetly ordered to resign rather than crudely dismissed, with negative repercussions on fauji morale.
The latest in the series of insensitive handling of matters fauji is the 6th CPC. While it is not the argument that salary is the most important cause to bring youth into the fauj or cause for officers leaving it as soon as convenient, it cannot be denied that it is a very important factor. When the single largest component of government servants is the fauj, repeated requests of various Service Chiefs over the decades to include a fauji as member in the Central Pay Commission have systematically been ignored or denied on the pretext that other sections of government servants will demand representation. The questions here are why should there not be representation of various sections, and why should bureaucrats represent everybody. It does not require superior intelligence to understand that is how bureaucrats retain hold of power and control in the country to the exclusion of other sectors. While it is true that the fauj must remain under civilian control, this must mean under control of the Cabinet and not under bureaucratic control, as it happens in practice.
We thus come to the oft repeated equivalence of faujis with bureaucrats. But before that, consider the “sub-bureaucratic” levels. Bureaucrats and politicians do not recognize that the PBOR fauji is a skilled worker, trained in a specialist job, exposed to hardship and risk far more than any civilian is expected to do as part of his duty. Thus he receives salary and pension less than a Grade IV employee and is treated shabbily by the civilian hierarchy, even though he is the backbone of the fauj and retires even before he is age 40 because of the necessity of keeping the fauj physically fit. Reverting to the officer cadre, fauji officers are equated with bureaucracy based upon salary. 90% of fauji officers do not pass the pay scale of Colonel, and a Brigadier with 24 years military experience is “equivalent” to an IAS man with 14 years of service, who is age-wise on par with a Lt Col under his command. Also, a Major General with 32 years of service becomes equivalent to a Joint Secretary years junior in age and service. Additionally, a point routinely (and may I suggest, deliberately) glossed over by bureaucracy is that only 1.5% of officers attain the rank of Major General because of the vitally necessary pyramidal structure of the fauj while 80% of bureaucrats become Joint Secretaries. These are all demotivating factors that insidiously affect functioning of the fauj in its internal command and control. It cannot be in the best interest of the nation if the guardians of its territorial integrity and sovereignty are treated with injustice to keep them inferior in status.
The question that arises here is what is the responsibility of the elected executive and the highest legislative body in safeguarding the interests of the nation by allowing bureaucratic control over an important body like the CPC? If bureaucracy is primarily responsible in this continuing injustice, then we need to ask whether the national interest is decided by bureaucrats or by the elected representatives of the people. What is needed for a start is pay and allowances to faujis de-linked from bureaucratic equivalence, in full recognition of the services that they render and the supreme sacrifice that they are expected to make, especially at the PBOR and junior-to-middle-rung officer levels, and “one-rank-one-pension” for retired faujis. Mollifying a few dozen generals, admirals and air marshals at the top by equating their salary with top bureaucrats cannot compensate for gross injustice done to the majority at the bottom of the pyramid.
The fall in the formal status of the fauj over the years is indicated by the falling order of precedence accorded to the Service Chiefs over the years. This fall in status of the top-most officers translates down to the lowest levels, resulting in lowered morale and self-esteem which are essential for a fauji to be effective in operations. There exists a kind of political blindness especially considering that while the militaries of neighbouring countries have been interfering in their nation’s politics, our fauj has remained apolitical as it should. It is vital for the long-term survival of India as a nation under the Constitution of India for the leaders at centre and state levels to recognize that on an average, some component of the fauj has been called to perform its secondary role in aid to civil power at some place in India once in four days (4 days), and ponder over why this should be necessary if bureaucracy and police perform their primary tasks. By its composition and performance record, the fauj is the last bastion of discipline and secularism in India that our leaders can only neglect, or worse still erode, at great peril to the nation.
(1,896 words of text)
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Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in December 1962 and held the position of Addl DG (Discipline & Vigilance) at Army HQ, New Delhi, from which he retired in September 1996. In 1993, the President of India awarded him the Visishta Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished services rendered in Ladakh.
Contact details:
475, 7th Main Road // Vijayanagar 1st Stage // Mysore-570017
Tel: 0821-2515187 E-mail: sgvombatkere@hotmail.com
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THREE CASE STUDIES
CASE STUDY 1
ILL TREATMENT OF AN ARMY OFFICER BY DC BOMDILA AND HIS STAFF
Lt Bhadauria and Capt Kapte, both of an infantry unit visited the DC's office at Bomdila in connection with a court case in July 1995 and approached the PA to the DC for an appointment with the DC. The PA asked the offrs to come after the lunch break, which they did. On requesting again for the appointment with DC the PA behaved in an indifferent manner and asked them to wait further. Bomdila is a hill station and since the weather was getting cloudy and the officers were to return to their unit, they once again requested the PA after about an hour for an early appointment with the DC. But the PA was very rude and used derogatory remarks to the effect that he was not a servant of army persons. Lt AS Bhadauria was agitated with such remarks and asked the PA to mind his language. Capt Kapte intervened to end the altercation. However, both the officers heard the PA saying to another person that he would ensure that the case file did not move easily.
Just before the office closed, the officers were called into the DC’s office. As soon as Lt Bhadauria entered the DC's office, the DC shouted at him, asking how he had dared to teach manners to his PA and whether it was the responsibility of the army to ensure discipline and etiquette of his staff. At this Lt Bhadauria tried to explain what had transpired between him and the PA. However, the DC refused to listen to him and asked him to leave his office, adding that he cared little for army persons and that he normally allowed only officers of the rank of Colonel to enter his office. Lt Bhadauria found it difficult to digest the insulting and derogatory remarks about the army, and suggested to the DC to speak in a manner befitting his position and office. At this stage, Capt Kapte intervened and instructed Lt Bhadauria to leave the office and wait outside.
The DC subsequently handed over to Capt Kapte an order passed by him fining Lt Bhaduaria Rs.1,000/- failing which he was to undergo simple imprisonment of one month. Capt Kapte approached the DC the next day and requested him to reconcile the issue. But the DC refused to reconsider the issue or discuss the subject any further.
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CASE STUDY 2
FIRING AT ARMY PERSONNEL BY POLICE
On the night of 23/24 June 1993, an Army party of about 175 personnel, proceeding on leave/temporary duty was travelling by Kamrup Express from Dimapur to Guwahati. At about 9:340 P.M, when the train arrived at Lumding Railway Station, four personnel of the Excise Department and GRPF entered the Army compartment to carry out search of the personnel. The Army personnel, after disclosing their identity, requested the Excise Department personnel and the GRPF that the search be carried out either in the presence of Military Police or Senior Police Officials. The Excise staff did not agree to this, and they insisted on carrying out the search forcibly with the help of GRPF Jawans. This led to an altercation. GRPF called for reinforcements and began wielding their lathis on the soldiers who had gathered on the railway platform. The Army soldiers, who were unarmed, were completely surprised and shocked at this behaviour of GRPF personnel. They tried to protect themselves from the lathis, and a scuffle ensued, and Nb Sub Randhir Singh received a lathi blow on his head.
As the scuffle/lathi charge continued, some personnel of the Assam Police, who had occupied two rooms of the First Class Waiting Room located opposite the Army compartment, opened fire with their weapons. On hearing the sound of firing, the Army personnel ran into the bogies for safety. Nb Sub Randhir Singh was again injured by a bullet in his right leg, while rushing into the compartment. Soon thereafter a long whistle was sounded which was followed by switching off the lights in the Railway Station.
The Police personnel then came out of the Waiting Room, closed in on to the bogie which was checked earlier by the Excise personnel and continued firing. One of the policemen smashed the windowpane of the compartment of the bogie with his rifle butt and pointed his weapon at L/Nk Ilangovan. Though he pleaded his innocence, the policeman fired at him twice at point blank range, resulting in his death. L/Nk Jeet Singh, who was sitting in the same bogie received four bullet wounds on his legs while he was trying to climb onto an upper berth to save himself from the police firing. In the adjacent bogie, Rfn Vikram Singh died on the spot and Nk Hira Singh received bullet injuries on his legs.
On-the-Spot Inquiry.
An On-the-Spot Inquiry was conducted by SDM, Hojai, corroborating the details of the incident as related above. Twenty-six bullet marks were identified on the Military compartment.
Departmental Inquiry by the Army.
Station Headquarters, Dimapur, ordered a Court of Inquiry mainly to ascertain attributability of death and injury to Army personnel, and the Inquiry was completed in September 1993.
First Joint Inquiry.
The Governor and the Chief Minister of Assam were informed about the high-handedness, the unprovoked firing and excessive use of force by Assam Police on unarmed Army personnel. A Joint Inquiry headed by Shri Mishra, the Commissioner of Upper Assam Division, Jorhat as Chairman, and Brig Virender Kumar as the Army member, was ordered by Govt of Assam in August 1993. However, the Commissioner avoided meeting Brig Virender Kumar and insisted that he forward the Army's findings of the incident. This was not provided to the Chairman by the Army as premature disclosure of the Army's findings might lead to finalization of the findings of the Joint Inquiry without affording fair chance to the Army member to cross-examine the witnesses. Since the Inquiry was not progressing due to the uncooperative attitude, particularly of the Chairman, a case was taken up with Govt of Assam.
Second Joint Inquiry.
As a consequence, the earlier Inquiry ordered was cancelled, and a fresh Inquiry was ordered by the State Government in April 1994 with Shri Carae, IAS, Commissioner North Assam Division, Tejpur, as Chairman, and Brigadier Virender Kumar as member. It was decided that comments on the incident be prepared separately by the Army and Civil authorities. The Army member prepared his comments and forwarded them to the Chairman during October 1994. The Chairman was requested to forward the civil version of the incident to the Army, which he refused, also saying that the Government of Assam had not agreed to the separate findings of the Joint Inquiry. The Chairman was again approached by Army authorities in January 1995 regarding progress of the Inquiry. During discussions it came to light that the State Govt had not accepted the Army version. The Army authorities again contacted the Chief Minister during February 1995 for early action on the Inquiry.
Third (One-Man) Inquiry.
In February 1995, the Second Joint Inquiry mentioned above was dissolved and a One-man Inquiry under Shri Kubilan, IAS, Development Commissioner, was instituted by the State Govt in March 1995, requiring that the Inquiry be completed within 30 days. The Inquiry by the State Government of Assam had not even commenced even after nearly 2 years of the incident. With a view to obtain early and appropriate justice to the soldiers, the case was forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for onward submission to NHRC in June 1995. The Ministry of Defence, instead of forwarding it to NHRC, referred the case to Ministry of Home Affairs asking them about the desirability of referring the complaint to NHRC. This action of the Ministry of Defence was against natural justice since the complaint was against an organ of the Ministry of Home Affairs itself. Accordingly, the Adjutant General addressed a DO letter to the Defence Secretary, requesting that the complaint be forwarded to NHRC at the earliest, but there was no response from Ministry of Defence. In the meantime, the Third (One-man) Inquiry Committee forwarded its recommendations to the Govt of Assam, recommending action against one Excise Inspector, one Platoon Commander and two constables of the Assam Police, and compensation of Rs.2 lakhs each to the Next of Kin of the two Jawans killed and Rs.1 lakh each to four Jawans injured. However, implementation of the recommendations is not known.
The Army expected and hoped that justice would be done by the Civil Administration and Police to identify the police personnel who fired and killed/wounded unarmed Army personnel, and taking strict criminal action taken against them. However, there had been deliberate prevarication by the bureaucracy of the State of Assam. Army personnel are increasingly of the view that in dealings with civil administration, they are always at a disadvantage and that this is part of the attitude of Civil Administration and/or the Police Forces in general. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment in this regard, which makes the secondary-role deployment of Army units difficult on tasks which are the primary responsibility of the Police Forces. At the same time, defaulters among Army personnel deployed in counter insurgency operations, other aid to Civil power as well as incidents involving other authorities like Police, Railways, etc., are brought to book and punished expeditiously, while little or no action is taken against police personnel involved even in serious cases.
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CASE STUDY 3
INCIDENT OF KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF ARMY CHILDREN AT GOLCONDA, HYDERABAD
Two children of Havildar Rawat of an infantry unit stationed at Golconda were found missing on 31 January 1994. After carrying out a search of the unit and adjoining areas, the unit lodged a FIR with the Langar Houz Police Station. There was a difference of opinion between the Army and the Police regarding the case being registered as one of kidnapping or of missing persons. The Army suspected the hand of a Police Sub-Inspector and his brother in the kidnapping, and this was brought to the notice of the police. A couple of days later, the unit was informed that the mutilated bodies of the two children were found floating in a well behind the Golconda Military Hospital. Postmortem examination of the deceased children was conducted by the civil authorities, and later again by Army authorities. The results of the Postmortem examinations were not in agreement with each other regarding the cause of death.
On seeing the mutilated condition of the bodies of the children, the sentiments of the unit persons were aroused and a few personnel of the unit rushed to the Police Station. Altercations and a scuffle took place, resulting in a few policemen getting injured. A little later, some houses in the civil area adjoining the Army Lines caught fire, which was brought under control with the help of army personnel.
A Joint Inquiry Committee (JIC) with Army and Police members was ordered by the Govt of Andhra Pradesh, and its report was submitted in March 1994. The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh held a meeting of Civil and Army officials soon after, to discuss the JIC Report, and the recommendations of the JIC Report were accepted. It was agreed that disciplinary action would be taken against the errant police officials, the Army authorities would take disciplinary action against errant army personnel, and that the case of kidnapping and death of the children and the incident of fire to the civilian houses would be handed over to the CBI for investigation.
Action against Police Personnel
The Joint Inquiry Committee blamed some police personnel for various lapses and recommended departmental disciplinary/administrative action against one DCP, one ACP, four policemen, one Fire Officer and the Medical Officer of Osmania Hospital who carried out the postmortem examination of the two children. On Army’s persistent requests regarding the action taken against the indicted persons, the State Govt stated that one ACP and three policemen had been warned to be careful and guard against such lapses in future, one policeman was awarded censure, and instructions had been issued for action to be taken against the Fire Officer by the concerned Department. It is noteworthy that the Civil authorities had used the word "lapses" when the acts were of a criminal nature, and the punishments awarded were not commensurate with the serious nature of the crimes. It also appeared that no action was contemplated taken against the other two indicted persons, namely the DCP and the Medical Officer.
Action against Army Personnel
On the other hand, the action taken against army personnel involved was comprehensive and fast.
(a) Officers: Lt Col Katkar and Maj Sethi were awarded Reproof.
(b) JCOs: Sub Maj Prem Singh, was awarded Severe Reprimand.
(c) ORs
(i) Nk Govind Singh Awarded Severe Reprimand
(ii) Nk Kushla Nand Awarded Severe Reprimand
(iii) L/Nk Sujan Singh Awarded Reprimand
(iv) L/Nk Kamal Singh Awarded Reprimand
(v) L/Nk Than Singh Awarded Reprimand
(vi) L/Nk Hukam Chand Awarded Reprimand
(vii) L/Nk Dalvir Singh Awarded Reprimand
(viii)Rfn Ghanshyam Awarded 14 days detention
(ix) Rfn Manwar Singh Awarded 07 days RI(rigorous imprisonment)
(x)
...
Attack on Army...Tamil Nadu....
From: Sandhya Jain sandhya206@bol.net.in
Subject: Tamil Secessionists' attack on Army Convoy - Beginning of Anarchy-B R Haran-7 May 2009
To: "Arun Shourie" ashourie@sansad.nic.in
Date: Thursday, 7 May, 2009, 10:39 AM
Vijayvaani.com
http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=555
Tamil Secessionists' attack on Army Convoy - Beginning of Anarchy
B R Haran
7 May 2009
In a shocking incident on the evening of Saturday, 2 May, several hundred hooligans belonging to the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) attacked an Army convoy on the Nilambur Bypass Road near Coimbatore . Around 300 army personnel were returning from Hyderabad after completing a three-month training camp, to their headquarters at Madukkarai in Coimbatore via Salem .
Early in the morning, when the convoy of over fifty trucks was passing through Salem, the MDMK and PDK cadres along with goons of Tamil-chauvinist and pro-LTTE outfits like Tamil Desiya Iyakkam and Thamizhaga Ilaignar Iyakkam, attempted to block the bypass, charging that the tanks, weapons, arms and ammunition were being transported to Sri Lanka to aid the Sri Lankan army in its war against the LTTE. Only the timely intervention of the Salem police thwarted attempts to attack the convoy; the police convinced the PDK and MDMK hooligans that the army personnel were returning with only their personal belongings after completing training in Hyderabad .
The unruly mob then spread the word about the travelling army convoy to their cadre in Coimbatore , who now lay in wait for the convoy to reach Coimbatore . In this well-planned plot to attack the army, hundreds of cadres belonging to these parties assembled on the Nilambur bypass road pretending to stage a demonstration. The media, with prior information about the impending clash, gathered to cover the so-called protest demonstration, but did not bother to caution the police.
Despite an alert from the Salem police, the Coimbatore police were not adequately prepared to deal with what followed. The first five trucks were stopped, attacked, tyres deflated, personal belongings like bedrolls, trunk boxes, tents and clothing thrown on the ground and set on fire in wanton destruction. One driver was grievously assaulted. The army personnel ran away to inform the trucks following behind. Other army personnel, who came rushing on hearing about the attack, took safe custody of the weapons, according per eye-witnesses. The witnesses reported retaliation in defense by the army personnel.
Senior police officers arrived with the Rapid Action Force and Armed Reserve Police to control the situation and pacify the army personnel. Some media persons and civilians were allegedly hurt in the melee. Coimbatore police arrested 18 cadres belonging to MDMK, PDK and PUCL and registered cases against them under Sections 147 (unlawful assembly), 148 (unlawful assembly with deadly weapons), 324 (causing grievous hurt) and 294 (b) (using obscene language) of IPC. Members of various media organisations demonstrated against the army personnel for allegedly attacking some of them. They demanded the case be investigated by local police and not referred to Army authorities; hence police registered cases against twenty army personnel as well. Clearly, as in the case of the lawyers’ attack against the police, a section of the media is allied with Tamil secessionists and has positioned itself against our men in uniform - the Army and the Police.
A scrutiny of the events clearly indicates a pre-conceived and well-executed attack. As the convoy was allowed to continue its journey through Salem and Erode without incident, the police did not expect trouble in Coimbatore . Anticipating lowered defenses of the Coimbatore police, the anti-national forces came well-prepared to attack the convoy in the guise of a protest demonstration. They clearly outnumbered the police and by the time additional forces were summoned, enough damage had been done. There are reports that the mob even attempted to set fire to the fuel tanks of the army trucks.
Initial investigations and interrogation of the apprehended hooligans have confirmed a huge conspiracy behind this daring act. The Sulur Police have registered cases against 250 persons and 19 persons, including Ramakrishnan, general secretary of PDK, Ponchandran of PUCL, and Sivapriyan of Tamil Nationalist Movement. Many hooligans have allegedly escaped to Chennai and Madurai and crossed over to Kerala.
The police were able to identify the culprits and gather evidence against them from complete video recordings collected from media personnel. The police strongly suspect that many culprits could have crossed over to Kerala as pro-LTTE elements have a safe refuge there in the coastal areas. PDK leader Ramakrishnan reputedly has close connections with LTTE boss Prabhakaran, and according to police records, even visited North Lanka to meet him in the 1980s; he reportedly conducted photo-exhibitions on the war-front and sufferings of Lankan Tamils.
Besides the pro-LTTE and Tamil-chauvinist elements, the involvement of PUCL members gives a different dimension to the issue. The Chennai edition of The Times of India (4 May 2009) reported that PUCL members were involved in the attack. In the past two decades, PUCL is known to have become a front for Naxalites, Maoists and Jihadis, and its sustained campaign against the army in Kashmir and in support of secessionists and militants in the name of human rights, is characteristic of its anti-establishment functioning. It has acted against the governments in Gujarat and Orissa (Kandhamal) in the aftermath of communal riots.
It must be noted that Binayak Sen, PUCL vice president, has been incarcerated in Chattisgarh for allegedly helping Maoists. It has been reported that Kavita Srivastava, secretary PUCL and Rajasthan unit’s general secretary, attended the ‘National Political Conference’ in February 2009 in Calicut, organized by the ‘Popular Front of India,’ an amalgamation of Islamic fundamentalist outfits.
Most PUCL office-bearers are involved in activities helping militant and separatist forces in the name of ‘human rights;’ a majority are ‘advocates.’ K.G. Kannabiran, President PUCL, and celebrities like Suzanne Arundhati Roy, have advocated ‘clemency’ for terrorists like Afzal Guru. The organization gave a tough time to the government and men in uniform in support of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins and sandalwood brigand Veerappan’s aides.
Maoists and Naxalites have a typical style of executing operations. They normally storm police stations, prisons, attack CRPF vehicles and police camps; of late they have started to hijack trains. The recent incident of hijacking a suburban train in Chennai, resulting in the death of four people and injuries to over a dozen, must be seen in this context. Within days, the attack on the army convoy followed.
This is a clear indication of increasing infiltration by Maoists into Tamil Nadu and their sprouting new fronts in pro-LTTE parties and Tamil-chauvinist outfits. Initial investigations in Coimbatore reveal a clandestine connection between the arrested persons and the LTTE. Some have been involved in smuggling arms, ammunition and spare parts for land mines to the LTTE during the 1980s.
The Maoist-Naxal menace is not new to Tamil Nadu, and in fact it has a history spanning more than three decades. The districts of Salem , Dharmapuri, Theni, Dindigul and Madurai were notorious for Maoist activities and the Maoist-LTTE nexus is known. The LTTE has been training Maoist and Tamil separatist elements and their nexus with sandalwood brigand Veerappan is a violent chapter in Tamil Nadu’s history of ‘Law and Order’.
The ‘Communist Party of India (Maoist)’ was actually formed in September 2004 with the merger of two banned Naxalite parties, namely the ‘Communist Party of India (Marxist- Leninist)’ and ‘Maoist Communist Centre of India’. As this new formation was given to violent anti-national and anti-social activities, the Tamil Nadu government banned it in July 2005. With the advent of the DMK government in 2006, there has been an alarming increase in LTTE and Maoist activities, and the Chief Minister had to appoint the immensely popular ADGP K. Vijayakumar, former chief of the STF who finally nabbed and killed Veerappan, once again as the Chief of STF, this time to neutralise the Maoists. ADGP Vijayakumar, considered Jayalalithaa’s blue-eyed boy, was relegated to an insignificant department earlier.
As expected, Vijayakumar’s STF and the ‘Q’ branch swung into action and results started to show almost immediately. A dozen Maoists, clandestinely engaged in recruitment of cadres, were captured along with some of their more notorious leaders who had managed to escape police dragnet for years. Among the captured, one was an engineering student (Muthuselvam) and the other a law student (Velmurugan).
When questioned by the police, all those apprehended confessed that they had been recruited by the PWG (People’s War Group) to create a ‘liberated zone’ in the Western Ghats and that they had links with Maoists in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal . Maps of Chennai and Madurai , along with blueprints of vital civilian installations, were seized from them. As the Tamil Nadu police tightened its grip, LTTE sought safe refuge in north Andhra Pradesh. Both LTTE and Maoists have been covertly using many industrial units without the knowledge of the proprietors to make key components for rockets, grenades and mortars and many such consignments have been seized by police in both states. Maoist and LTTE activities, which rose in 2006 and 2007, started to slump in 2008.
But with the imminent decimation of the LTTE in Sri Lanka , the politics of Tamil Eelam, combining dangerously with Lok Sabha elections in India , gathered momentum and the DMK government, caught in a dilemma, could not employ demonstrable force against pro-LTTE groups and their violent acts. Church backing for pro-LTTE activities was also a reason for the DMK’s weak response.
This emboldened the pro-LTTE elements to flaunt their affiliations and indulge in blatantly treacherous activities, starting from the lawyers’ unrest, which prevailed for over five months from November 2008 to March 2009. Indeed, the disorder caused by a section of the legal fraternity started with the celebration of LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s birthday in November 2008 inside the Court premises, and culminated with the physical assault on Janata Party president Dr. Subramanian Swamy on 27 February and violent clash between lawyers and police on 29 February 2009. The lawyers’ unrest exposed the deep infiltration of Maoist and pro-LTTE elements into the legal fraternity of the state and the clandestine support they get from the Church.
As the pro-LTTE parties failed to induce the student community to rise in support of the LTTE, and as they could not create a massive uprising in support of the LTTE even after stage-managing the self-immolation of a dozen individuals and the lawyers’ unrest, they are frustrated and desperate. The hijacking of the suburban train in Chennai and the attack on the army convoy in Coimbatore is a sign of that desperation. The extraordinary restraint shown by the Army in the face of this outrageous provocation has averted what may have turned into yet another opportunity for the human rights industry, which by definition is fast acquiring the nomenclature of a front for terrorists to castigate our armed forces.
The Army agreed to treat the attack on its convoy as an ‘aberration,’ but warned that troops would retaliate in self-defence as per law if such incidents recurred. Maj-Gen. E.J. Kochekkan, General Officer in Commanding, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, said the troops had “practiced restraint” when the pro-LTTE elements attacked the convoy on May 2. He warned, “The incident is an aberration and not a threat per se. It should not be repeated. If such incidents became a pattern, active measures will have to be adopted and when it gets adopted, then the results could be much worse and catastrophic. It must be avoided at all costs. If it continues, troops will take action in self-defence as the law permits.”
Barring State Congress leaders, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, and Hindu Munnani president Ramagopalan, no political leader, even from the BJP, condemned the attack on the army convoy. MDMK President Vaiko, whose cadres were behind these dastardly acts, was conspicuously silent, as was his leader Jayalalithaa, who waxed eloquent about her patriotism in response to Kapil Sibal’s barb against her seditious demand for Tamil Eelam. Jayalalithaa spoke of an unrealistic Indian military operation against Sri Lanka . Adding insult to injury, their alliance partner and CPI leader Thomas Pandian condemned the arrest of MDMK/ PDK/ PUCL goons!
While Dr. Swamy sought the immediate attention of the Election Commission, Coimbatore-based Congress leader S.R. Balasubramaniam lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Police West Zone, demanding that the arrested culprits belonging to MDMK/PDK/PUCL be charged for attempted murder. He rightly felt that the incident exposed a deep-rooted conspiracy of several organisations known for their secessionist ideology and reflected a clear intention to cause hatred against the Indian State and the Tamil Nadu government.
It may be noted that the PDK has been clandestinely distributing CD materials in support of LTTE throughout the state; the Congress has objected to the Election Commission. PDK president Kolathur Mani was recently imprisoned under NSA for seditious speech. It is high time the government banned this anti-national organization.
Though TNCC President Thangkabalu and Union Minister G K Vasan condemned the incident, the Congress high command preferred silence so as not to embarrass ally DMK. Hence the Prime Minister also kept quiet and the Defence Minister remained mute. The mainstream electronic media, which repeatedly aired and debated the inconsequential attack on a third-rate pub for more than 72 hours, preferred silence on the attack on the army convoy. This speaks volumes about the Medias’ understanding of national security.
That this violent attack on an Army convoy is not receiving the attention it deserves is cause for great misgiving. Yet what else can one expect of a government and a media which is essentially run on an NGO agenda. This agenda does not respect national soldiers and shamelessly accepts with equanimity the medals which our soldiers returned a few months ago in anger and frustration.
The author is a senior journalist; he lives in Chennai
Subject: Tamil Secessionists' attack on Army Convoy - Beginning of Anarchy-B R Haran-7 May 2009
To: "Arun Shourie" ashourie@sansad.nic.in
Date: Thursday, 7 May, 2009, 10:39 AM
Vijayvaani.com
http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=555
Tamil Secessionists' attack on Army Convoy - Beginning of Anarchy
B R Haran
7 May 2009
In a shocking incident on the evening of Saturday, 2 May, several hundred hooligans belonging to the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) attacked an Army convoy on the Nilambur Bypass Road near Coimbatore . Around 300 army personnel were returning from Hyderabad after completing a three-month training camp, to their headquarters at Madukkarai in Coimbatore via Salem .
Early in the morning, when the convoy of over fifty trucks was passing through Salem, the MDMK and PDK cadres along with goons of Tamil-chauvinist and pro-LTTE outfits like Tamil Desiya Iyakkam and Thamizhaga Ilaignar Iyakkam, attempted to block the bypass, charging that the tanks, weapons, arms and ammunition were being transported to Sri Lanka to aid the Sri Lankan army in its war against the LTTE. Only the timely intervention of the Salem police thwarted attempts to attack the convoy; the police convinced the PDK and MDMK hooligans that the army personnel were returning with only their personal belongings after completing training in Hyderabad .
The unruly mob then spread the word about the travelling army convoy to their cadre in Coimbatore , who now lay in wait for the convoy to reach Coimbatore . In this well-planned plot to attack the army, hundreds of cadres belonging to these parties assembled on the Nilambur bypass road pretending to stage a demonstration. The media, with prior information about the impending clash, gathered to cover the so-called protest demonstration, but did not bother to caution the police.
Despite an alert from the Salem police, the Coimbatore police were not adequately prepared to deal with what followed. The first five trucks were stopped, attacked, tyres deflated, personal belongings like bedrolls, trunk boxes, tents and clothing thrown on the ground and set on fire in wanton destruction. One driver was grievously assaulted. The army personnel ran away to inform the trucks following behind. Other army personnel, who came rushing on hearing about the attack, took safe custody of the weapons, according per eye-witnesses. The witnesses reported retaliation in defense by the army personnel.
Senior police officers arrived with the Rapid Action Force and Armed Reserve Police to control the situation and pacify the army personnel. Some media persons and civilians were allegedly hurt in the melee. Coimbatore police arrested 18 cadres belonging to MDMK, PDK and PUCL and registered cases against them under Sections 147 (unlawful assembly), 148 (unlawful assembly with deadly weapons), 324 (causing grievous hurt) and 294 (b) (using obscene language) of IPC. Members of various media organisations demonstrated against the army personnel for allegedly attacking some of them. They demanded the case be investigated by local police and not referred to Army authorities; hence police registered cases against twenty army personnel as well. Clearly, as in the case of the lawyers’ attack against the police, a section of the media is allied with Tamil secessionists and has positioned itself against our men in uniform - the Army and the Police.
A scrutiny of the events clearly indicates a pre-conceived and well-executed attack. As the convoy was allowed to continue its journey through Salem and Erode without incident, the police did not expect trouble in Coimbatore . Anticipating lowered defenses of the Coimbatore police, the anti-national forces came well-prepared to attack the convoy in the guise of a protest demonstration. They clearly outnumbered the police and by the time additional forces were summoned, enough damage had been done. There are reports that the mob even attempted to set fire to the fuel tanks of the army trucks.
Initial investigations and interrogation of the apprehended hooligans have confirmed a huge conspiracy behind this daring act. The Sulur Police have registered cases against 250 persons and 19 persons, including Ramakrishnan, general secretary of PDK, Ponchandran of PUCL, and Sivapriyan of Tamil Nationalist Movement. Many hooligans have allegedly escaped to Chennai and Madurai and crossed over to Kerala.
The police were able to identify the culprits and gather evidence against them from complete video recordings collected from media personnel. The police strongly suspect that many culprits could have crossed over to Kerala as pro-LTTE elements have a safe refuge there in the coastal areas. PDK leader Ramakrishnan reputedly has close connections with LTTE boss Prabhakaran, and according to police records, even visited North Lanka to meet him in the 1980s; he reportedly conducted photo-exhibitions on the war-front and sufferings of Lankan Tamils.
Besides the pro-LTTE and Tamil-chauvinist elements, the involvement of PUCL members gives a different dimension to the issue. The Chennai edition of The Times of India (4 May 2009) reported that PUCL members were involved in the attack. In the past two decades, PUCL is known to have become a front for Naxalites, Maoists and Jihadis, and its sustained campaign against the army in Kashmir and in support of secessionists and militants in the name of human rights, is characteristic of its anti-establishment functioning. It has acted against the governments in Gujarat and Orissa (Kandhamal) in the aftermath of communal riots.
It must be noted that Binayak Sen, PUCL vice president, has been incarcerated in Chattisgarh for allegedly helping Maoists. It has been reported that Kavita Srivastava, secretary PUCL and Rajasthan unit’s general secretary, attended the ‘National Political Conference’ in February 2009 in Calicut, organized by the ‘Popular Front of India,’ an amalgamation of Islamic fundamentalist outfits.
Most PUCL office-bearers are involved in activities helping militant and separatist forces in the name of ‘human rights;’ a majority are ‘advocates.’ K.G. Kannabiran, President PUCL, and celebrities like Suzanne Arundhati Roy, have advocated ‘clemency’ for terrorists like Afzal Guru. The organization gave a tough time to the government and men in uniform in support of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins and sandalwood brigand Veerappan’s aides.
Maoists and Naxalites have a typical style of executing operations. They normally storm police stations, prisons, attack CRPF vehicles and police camps; of late they have started to hijack trains. The recent incident of hijacking a suburban train in Chennai, resulting in the death of four people and injuries to over a dozen, must be seen in this context. Within days, the attack on the army convoy followed.
This is a clear indication of increasing infiltration by Maoists into Tamil Nadu and their sprouting new fronts in pro-LTTE parties and Tamil-chauvinist outfits. Initial investigations in Coimbatore reveal a clandestine connection between the arrested persons and the LTTE. Some have been involved in smuggling arms, ammunition and spare parts for land mines to the LTTE during the 1980s.
The Maoist-Naxal menace is not new to Tamil Nadu, and in fact it has a history spanning more than three decades. The districts of Salem , Dharmapuri, Theni, Dindigul and Madurai were notorious for Maoist activities and the Maoist-LTTE nexus is known. The LTTE has been training Maoist and Tamil separatist elements and their nexus with sandalwood brigand Veerappan is a violent chapter in Tamil Nadu’s history of ‘Law and Order’.
The ‘Communist Party of India (Maoist)’ was actually formed in September 2004 with the merger of two banned Naxalite parties, namely the ‘Communist Party of India (Marxist- Leninist)’ and ‘Maoist Communist Centre of India’. As this new formation was given to violent anti-national and anti-social activities, the Tamil Nadu government banned it in July 2005. With the advent of the DMK government in 2006, there has been an alarming increase in LTTE and Maoist activities, and the Chief Minister had to appoint the immensely popular ADGP K. Vijayakumar, former chief of the STF who finally nabbed and killed Veerappan, once again as the Chief of STF, this time to neutralise the Maoists. ADGP Vijayakumar, considered Jayalalithaa’s blue-eyed boy, was relegated to an insignificant department earlier.
As expected, Vijayakumar’s STF and the ‘Q’ branch swung into action and results started to show almost immediately. A dozen Maoists, clandestinely engaged in recruitment of cadres, were captured along with some of their more notorious leaders who had managed to escape police dragnet for years. Among the captured, one was an engineering student (Muthuselvam) and the other a law student (Velmurugan).
When questioned by the police, all those apprehended confessed that they had been recruited by the PWG (People’s War Group) to create a ‘liberated zone’ in the Western Ghats and that they had links with Maoists in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal . Maps of Chennai and Madurai , along with blueprints of vital civilian installations, were seized from them. As the Tamil Nadu police tightened its grip, LTTE sought safe refuge in north Andhra Pradesh. Both LTTE and Maoists have been covertly using many industrial units without the knowledge of the proprietors to make key components for rockets, grenades and mortars and many such consignments have been seized by police in both states. Maoist and LTTE activities, which rose in 2006 and 2007, started to slump in 2008.
But with the imminent decimation of the LTTE in Sri Lanka , the politics of Tamil Eelam, combining dangerously with Lok Sabha elections in India , gathered momentum and the DMK government, caught in a dilemma, could not employ demonstrable force against pro-LTTE groups and their violent acts. Church backing for pro-LTTE activities was also a reason for the DMK’s weak response.
This emboldened the pro-LTTE elements to flaunt their affiliations and indulge in blatantly treacherous activities, starting from the lawyers’ unrest, which prevailed for over five months from November 2008 to March 2009. Indeed, the disorder caused by a section of the legal fraternity started with the celebration of LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s birthday in November 2008 inside the Court premises, and culminated with the physical assault on Janata Party president Dr. Subramanian Swamy on 27 February and violent clash between lawyers and police on 29 February 2009. The lawyers’ unrest exposed the deep infiltration of Maoist and pro-LTTE elements into the legal fraternity of the state and the clandestine support they get from the Church.
As the pro-LTTE parties failed to induce the student community to rise in support of the LTTE, and as they could not create a massive uprising in support of the LTTE even after stage-managing the self-immolation of a dozen individuals and the lawyers’ unrest, they are frustrated and desperate. The hijacking of the suburban train in Chennai and the attack on the army convoy in Coimbatore is a sign of that desperation. The extraordinary restraint shown by the Army in the face of this outrageous provocation has averted what may have turned into yet another opportunity for the human rights industry, which by definition is fast acquiring the nomenclature of a front for terrorists to castigate our armed forces.
The Army agreed to treat the attack on its convoy as an ‘aberration,’ but warned that troops would retaliate in self-defence as per law if such incidents recurred. Maj-Gen. E.J. Kochekkan, General Officer in Commanding, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, said the troops had “practiced restraint” when the pro-LTTE elements attacked the convoy on May 2. He warned, “The incident is an aberration and not a threat per se. It should not be repeated. If such incidents became a pattern, active measures will have to be adopted and when it gets adopted, then the results could be much worse and catastrophic. It must be avoided at all costs. If it continues, troops will take action in self-defence as the law permits.”
Barring State Congress leaders, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, and Hindu Munnani president Ramagopalan, no political leader, even from the BJP, condemned the attack on the army convoy. MDMK President Vaiko, whose cadres were behind these dastardly acts, was conspicuously silent, as was his leader Jayalalithaa, who waxed eloquent about her patriotism in response to Kapil Sibal’s barb against her seditious demand for Tamil Eelam. Jayalalithaa spoke of an unrealistic Indian military operation against Sri Lanka . Adding insult to injury, their alliance partner and CPI leader Thomas Pandian condemned the arrest of MDMK/ PDK/ PUCL goons!
While Dr. Swamy sought the immediate attention of the Election Commission, Coimbatore-based Congress leader S.R. Balasubramaniam lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Police West Zone, demanding that the arrested culprits belonging to MDMK/PDK/PUCL be charged for attempted murder. He rightly felt that the incident exposed a deep-rooted conspiracy of several organisations known for their secessionist ideology and reflected a clear intention to cause hatred against the Indian State and the Tamil Nadu government.
It may be noted that the PDK has been clandestinely distributing CD materials in support of LTTE throughout the state; the Congress has objected to the Election Commission. PDK president Kolathur Mani was recently imprisoned under NSA for seditious speech. It is high time the government banned this anti-national organization.
Though TNCC President Thangkabalu and Union Minister G K Vasan condemned the incident, the Congress high command preferred silence so as not to embarrass ally DMK. Hence the Prime Minister also kept quiet and the Defence Minister remained mute. The mainstream electronic media, which repeatedly aired and debated the inconsequential attack on a third-rate pub for more than 72 hours, preferred silence on the attack on the army convoy. This speaks volumes about the Medias’ understanding of national security.
That this violent attack on an Army convoy is not receiving the attention it deserves is cause for great misgiving. Yet what else can one expect of a government and a media which is essentially run on an NGO agenda. This agenda does not respect national soldiers and shamelessly accepts with equanimity the medals which our soldiers returned a few months ago in anger and frustration.
The author is a senior journalist; he lives in Chennai
Elections Stunts and Further by Col Malaiappan
Col K Malaiappan -
7-5-2009
Dear Sirs
ELECTION STUNTS & FURTHER
1. Heartiest congradulations for your concentrated attacks to get the entitled in which most of the issues are almost cleard.
Congress clears this that gets EC notice etc
Prime Ministerial Candidate visit IESM Dharna Place, promises this, that etc,
BJP announces ESM welfare Election manifesto...
Congress Govt clears and issues orders and committees of IESM demands which was manifested in BJP Election manifesto
DMK promises Colonel Malaiappan that they will implement all policies of KSB, take up all issues with the Union Govt and get the maximum for ESM (O) & ESM who have given the best of their youth to the
betterment of Indians tommorrow for the security of India etc
Many other political parties in the same or more striking manner.
2. All why -IT IS FOR VOTE AND THEY TO LOOT
3. How it happened?. -DUE TO THE UNITED STUPENDUS EFFORTS OF GEN KADYAN & THE CONCENTRATED EFFORTS OF DEDICATED TEAM, RETUN OF MEDALS ETC ETC
& IN TAMIL NADU to some extent DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF COLONEL MALAIAPPAN TO THE TOP BOSSES IN POLITICS AND FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL IN MADRAS HIGH COURT and getting WP 21788 OF 2009 ORDER DATED 22-4-2009 and more to come after elections are over.(IAS Babus are scared of this orderand Politicians are liely to come heavily on IAS Babus)
4. Leason learnt/Result achieved. Donot leave any stone unturned. Which ever baby cries gets milk. Try all sources to get the best for IESM. Don't put all eggs in one Basket. (do not go with one political Party maintain the status we help those who help us at the earliest)
5. Be in the right side of Chiefs and carry them along with us. Any circastisism done on them strike those who does & to the worst.
6. Further demand more legally justifiable issues like counting service with pay and allowances in IMA/OTA for officers due to the enhanced QR of Graduation at the time of entering IMA/OTA at par with civil services where in the entry level QR is Graduation.
7. One year advanced pay paritywith Civil services ie on 14-1 years, pay of Dirctor/JS to Armed Forces Offrs and Qualification pay as those of Doctors, Dentists, Vet Doctors etc to those who joined as Engg Graduates along with ante dated seniority as those of these
8. Absorbing PBORs in their proportinate cadres/trade related posts of Govt/PSUs, Autonomus Bodies along with their services in Armd Forces counted, instead of Police and Para Military Forces, Forest Guards only.
9. Department of ESM Welfare Boards to be managed by Retd Commissioned officers and ESM as per KSB Policy of the year 1998 (In dgrindia.com website). No IAS Babus are entittled to be in any Board. Relate it to the order of High Court of Madras in WP No 1793 of 2004 dated 22-4-2004 &WP No 21788 of 2009 dated 22-4-2009
10. State ESM Corporations are functioning with the Funds provided from State Exservicemen's Benevolent Funds and as per policy Chairman and all functionaries to be Retired Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces ONLY who qualify to be ESM (O) (Para 12 b of DGR Instructions for functioning of Security Agencies as pere the orderss of High Court of Madras in WP No 21788 of 2009 & WP No 1793 of 2004
11. Keep the momento do not get complecent
12. My statistical and reasoned likely out come in Tamil Nadu in 2009 Parliament Election:-
Partyies Votes likely to get Seats likely to get out of 40 incl Pondy
Maximum Minimum
DMK+ INC etc 47% 40 33 or 3 (in the worst scenario)
ADMK+ etc 37% 0 -
37 30 ( in the above worst scenario
which is the best for this allies)
DMDK 12% 0 0
Others (which includes BJP) 4% 0 0 (in the worst scenario)
1 0 (in the best scenario)
13. Whether DMK wins or ADMK wins in Tamil Nadu, INC or BJP gets single largest majority in centre Tamil Nadu will dicte whch has been hapenning. I will have great say in all four scenarios.
14. Likely out come in centre
INC 173 seats & has more chances to form Govt
BJP 164 seatrs
15. Who ever comes to power IESM and all ESM should be the gainers and get all lost dues in the past decades.
16. Long live IESM and cheers to General Kadayan and his team of untiring veterans
17. It is requested that this be circulated widely
With best wishes and regards
Yours Sincerly
Colonel K Malaiappan (Retd), BE,MBA,(BL)
7-5-2009
Dear Sirs
ELECTION STUNTS & FURTHER
1. Heartiest congradulations for your concentrated attacks to get the entitled in which most of the issues are almost cleard.
Congress clears this that gets EC notice etc
Prime Ministerial Candidate visit IESM Dharna Place, promises this, that etc,
BJP announces ESM welfare Election manifesto...
Congress Govt clears and issues orders and committees of IESM demands which was manifested in BJP Election manifesto
DMK promises Colonel Malaiappan that they will implement all policies of KSB, take up all issues with the Union Govt and get the maximum for ESM (O) & ESM who have given the best of their youth to the
betterment of Indians tommorrow for the security of India etc
Many other political parties in the same or more striking manner.
2. All why -IT IS FOR VOTE AND THEY TO LOOT
3. How it happened?. -DUE TO THE UNITED STUPENDUS EFFORTS OF GEN KADYAN & THE CONCENTRATED EFFORTS OF DEDICATED TEAM, RETUN OF MEDALS ETC ETC
& IN TAMIL NADU to some extent DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF COLONEL MALAIAPPAN TO THE TOP BOSSES IN POLITICS AND FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL IN MADRAS HIGH COURT and getting WP 21788 OF 2009 ORDER DATED 22-4-2009 and more to come after elections are over.(IAS Babus are scared of this orderand Politicians are liely to come heavily on IAS Babus)
4. Leason learnt/Result achieved. Donot leave any stone unturned. Which ever baby cries gets milk. Try all sources to get the best for IESM. Don't put all eggs in one Basket. (do not go with one political Party maintain the status we help those who help us at the earliest)
5. Be in the right side of Chiefs and carry them along with us. Any circastisism done on them strike those who does & to the worst.
6. Further demand more legally justifiable issues like counting service with pay and allowances in IMA/OTA for officers due to the enhanced QR of Graduation at the time of entering IMA/OTA at par with civil services where in the entry level QR is Graduation.
7. One year advanced pay paritywith Civil services ie on 14-1 years, pay of Dirctor/JS to Armed Forces Offrs and Qualification pay as those of Doctors, Dentists, Vet Doctors etc to those who joined as Engg Graduates along with ante dated seniority as those of these
8. Absorbing PBORs in their proportinate cadres/trade related posts of Govt/PSUs, Autonomus Bodies along with their services in Armd Forces counted, instead of Police and Para Military Forces, Forest Guards only.
9. Department of ESM Welfare Boards to be managed by Retd Commissioned officers and ESM as per KSB Policy of the year 1998 (In dgrindia.com website). No IAS Babus are entittled to be in any Board. Relate it to the order of High Court of Madras in WP No 1793 of 2004 dated 22-4-2004 &WP No 21788 of 2009 dated 22-4-2009
10. State ESM Corporations are functioning with the Funds provided from State Exservicemen's Benevolent Funds and as per policy Chairman and all functionaries to be Retired Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces ONLY who qualify to be ESM (O) (Para 12 b of DGR Instructions for functioning of Security Agencies as pere the orderss of High Court of Madras in WP No 21788 of 2009 & WP No 1793 of 2004
11. Keep the momento do not get complecent
12. My statistical and reasoned likely out come in Tamil Nadu in 2009 Parliament Election:-
Partyies Votes likely to get Seats likely to get out of 40 incl Pondy
Maximum Minimum
DMK+ INC etc 47% 40 33 or 3 (in the worst scenario)
ADMK+ etc 37% 0 -
37 30 ( in the above worst scenario
which is the best for this allies)
DMDK 12% 0 0
Others (which includes BJP) 4% 0 0 (in the worst scenario)
1 0 (in the best scenario)
13. Whether DMK wins or ADMK wins in Tamil Nadu, INC or BJP gets single largest majority in centre Tamil Nadu will dicte whch has been hapenning. I will have great say in all four scenarios.
14. Likely out come in centre
INC 173 seats & has more chances to form Govt
BJP 164 seatrs
15. Who ever comes to power IESM and all ESM should be the gainers and get all lost dues in the past decades.
16. Long live IESM and cheers to General Kadayan and his team of untiring veterans
17. It is requested that this be circulated widely
With best wishes and regards
Yours Sincerly
Colonel K Malaiappan (Retd), BE,MBA,(BL)
EC asks Cabinet secy to Clarify in OROP
http://newsx.com/story/52061
EC asks Cabinet secretary to clarify on OROP
Wed-May 06, 2009
New Delhi / Press Trust of India
Taking note of reports of government coming out with sops to attract ex-servicemen in its favour, the Election Commission on Wednesday asked the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar to clarify on issues like One Rank-One Pension (OROP) and higher disability pension.
The Commission has asked the Cabinet Secretary to clarify as to any special committee or panel has been set up for the OROP demand of armed forces.
The Cabinet Secretary has also been asked to clarify whether any notification has been issued for higher disability pension to those injured or killed in battle, both in times of war and peace.
He has been asked to reply by 5 pm on May 8, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters.
Reports said that UPA government has set up a high-level committee under the Cabinet Secretary to consider their 'One Rank-One Pension' (OROP) demand and reduce the gap in pensionary benefits of the 1.5-million-strong armed forces.
Government has also notified new, increased disability and family pension benefits across the board for those injured or killed in battle, both in times of war and peace.
EC asks Cabinet secretary to clarify on OROP
Wed-May 06, 2009
New Delhi / Press Trust of India
Taking note of reports of government coming out with sops to attract ex-servicemen in its favour, the Election Commission on Wednesday asked the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar to clarify on issues like One Rank-One Pension (OROP) and higher disability pension.
The Commission has asked the Cabinet Secretary to clarify as to any special committee or panel has been set up for the OROP demand of armed forces.
The Cabinet Secretary has also been asked to clarify whether any notification has been issued for higher disability pension to those injured or killed in battle, both in times of war and peace.
He has been asked to reply by 5 pm on May 8, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters.
Reports said that UPA government has set up a high-level committee under the Cabinet Secretary to consider their 'One Rank-One Pension' (OROP) demand and reduce the gap in pensionary benefits of the 1.5-million-strong armed forces.
Government has also notified new, increased disability and family pension benefits across the board for those injured or killed in battle, both in times of war and peace.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
ESM Sitrep 05 May ...
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: ESM sitrep 05 May evening
Date: Tuesday, 5 May, 2009, 9:50 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Pension News
The news is out in the papers today. The government has announced constitution of a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the issue related to old pensioners. I received several calls from the PBOR about it. While recognising that the govt is acting under pressure, mainly due to depositing of medals by the veterans, they all showed lack of faith in the sincerity of the govt. Many even endorsed what has been highlighted in the Press that with the elections in Northern States where the ESM have a sizeable population, being due in the third and the fourth phases, this is an attempt by the Congress to win them over.
The main comment to be made is that while the govt – as learnt through Press reports – wants the gap between old and new pensioners reduced, we want it removed.
New Membership
We compliment Col Rajan for motivating many ESM from Bangalore to become IESM members. We heartily welcome the following as members of the family:
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Subject: ESM sitrep 05 May evening
Date: Tuesday, 5 May, 2009, 9:50 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Pension News
The news is out in the papers today. The government has announced constitution of a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the issue related to old pensioners. I received several calls from the PBOR about it. While recognising that the govt is acting under pressure, mainly due to depositing of medals by the veterans, they all showed lack of faith in the sincerity of the govt. Many even endorsed what has been highlighted in the Press that with the elections in Northern States where the ESM have a sizeable population, being due in the third and the fourth phases, this is an attempt by the Congress to win them over.
The main comment to be made is that while the govt – as learnt through Press reports – wants the gap between old and new pensioners reduced, we want it removed.
New Membership
We compliment Col Rajan for motivating many ESM from Bangalore to become IESM members. We heartily welcome the following as members of the family:
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Food for thought...Rajesh Jain's Blog
Food for Thought:
Building a Complement to a Political Party- Rajesh Jain's Blog
As I observe the Indian elections at close-range, I have also started thinking about what we can do better. More specifically, is there a role for “Friends of BJP” (or for that matter, a “Friends of Congress”) once the elections are over? I think there is a big void that such an entity can fulfill. Here are some starting ideas.
1. Create an army of volunteers across India. This will be the new cadre, comprising youth and professionals who stay engaged through the period between elections, work in their local constituencies (zones), build inroads into the communities and associations, and thus become a credible voice of wisdom. A multi-level network needs to be created to manage this value chain.
2. Create a Continuous Engagement Programme with Middle India. We should create a weekly session (say, Fridays 6-7 pm) that allows people to network and converse. Each week there needs to be a topic for discussion with material provided centrally, and feedback solicited after the discussion. This programme will help the volunteers widen the reach and build a deeper presence in society. This engagement will also help identify the leaders of tomorrow.
3. Identify 10 Key enabling Ideas / Innovations / Disruptive Technologies. These can help the party leapfrog and get a huge advantage in the political marketplace.
4. Fund a Think Tank. The goal needs to be create something like the Centre for American Progress or Brookings Institute which explores new ideas, organizes talks, builds deep intelligence into how India is changing, and creates a governance agenda (and policies) for the party.
5. Nurture 1000+ candidates across India. At the end of the day, the party needs to win Lok Sabha elections. The process of identifying the right people should begin now, and they should be trained to work in a constituency so they can be battle-ready in a few years. They can use technology to identify local issues, stay connected with people, and solve problems.
6.Project a Big, Bold Vision for India. The party needs to provide an overarching positive vision with big bold ideas for the country which can attract people in Middle India. For example, a $10 billion investment into solar energy, the creation of 100 new cities to house 1 million people, a high-speed rail transportation network across India, opening up the education sector to public-private partnership, leapfrogging to 4G in wireless and 100 Mbps to offices and homes in broadband, etc. - ideas which can capture people’s imagination, and also create Indian organizations that can lead globally because of their strong domestic market presence.
The goal thus has to build a modern organisation focused on the new, emerging, urban India, which can be a key source of ideas and inputs to the political party it is affiliated to. We have to be the movement that captures the dreams and aspirations of Middle India. It is a volunteer organisation, but one that has a corporate discipline. I think we will find plenty of people willing to dedicate an hour or two a week to participate in this process.
Improving the input (quality of people) to our political system is what will lead to an improvement in the quality of our politics and governance.
What do you think? Is this possible? What else can groups like these do? Would you be willing be participate in this process?
Building a Complement to a Political Party
Building a Complement to a Political Party- Rajesh Jain's Blog
As I observe the Indian elections at close-range, I have also started thinking about what we can do better. More specifically, is there a role for “Friends of BJP” (or for that matter, a “Friends of Congress”) once the elections are over? I think there is a big void that such an entity can fulfill. Here are some starting ideas.
1. Create an army of volunteers across India. This will be the new cadre, comprising youth and professionals who stay engaged through the period between elections, work in their local constituencies (zones), build inroads into the communities and associations, and thus become a credible voice of wisdom. A multi-level network needs to be created to manage this value chain.
2. Create a Continuous Engagement Programme with Middle India. We should create a weekly session (say, Fridays 6-7 pm) that allows people to network and converse. Each week there needs to be a topic for discussion with material provided centrally, and feedback solicited after the discussion. This programme will help the volunteers widen the reach and build a deeper presence in society. This engagement will also help identify the leaders of tomorrow.
3. Identify 10 Key enabling Ideas / Innovations / Disruptive Technologies. These can help the party leapfrog and get a huge advantage in the political marketplace.
4. Fund a Think Tank. The goal needs to be create something like the Centre for American Progress or Brookings Institute which explores new ideas, organizes talks, builds deep intelligence into how India is changing, and creates a governance agenda (and policies) for the party.
5. Nurture 1000+ candidates across India. At the end of the day, the party needs to win Lok Sabha elections. The process of identifying the right people should begin now, and they should be trained to work in a constituency so they can be battle-ready in a few years. They can use technology to identify local issues, stay connected with people, and solve problems.
6.Project a Big, Bold Vision for India. The party needs to provide an overarching positive vision with big bold ideas for the country which can attract people in Middle India. For example, a $10 billion investment into solar energy, the creation of 100 new cities to house 1 million people, a high-speed rail transportation network across India, opening up the education sector to public-private partnership, leapfrogging to 4G in wireless and 100 Mbps to offices and homes in broadband, etc. - ideas which can capture people’s imagination, and also create Indian organizations that can lead globally because of their strong domestic market presence.
The goal thus has to build a modern organisation focused on the new, emerging, urban India, which can be a key source of ideas and inputs to the political party it is affiliated to. We have to be the movement that captures the dreams and aspirations of Middle India. It is a volunteer organisation, but one that has a corporate discipline. I think we will find plenty of people willing to dedicate an hour or two a week to participate in this process.
Improving the input (quality of people) to our political system is what will lead to an improvement in the quality of our politics and governance.
What do you think? Is this possible? What else can groups like these do? Would you be willing be participate in this process?
Building a Complement to a Political Party
The Fauji Devalued
Economic & Political Weekly
Current Issue : VOL 44 No. 17 April 25 - May 01, 2009
The Fauji Devalued
Live issues within the military, such as physically and psychologically trying service conditions, especially during internal security duties, insufficient living accommodation, all jawans having to retire at the age of 38, 60% officers by the age of 54, and promotions (to which pay is linked) being very limited especially in the officer cadre, have been borne without much murmur. But now the dissatisfaction in the military is at high pitch, although this may not be seen by those outside “the system” – not even those who have access to intelligence reports, because most intelligence agencies keep uncomfortable facts away from the boss. The hard fact is that, justifiable or not, most faujis and veterans harbour a grudge against the bureaucracy, which they see as the hand behind the consistent denial of their just and fair demands. Admittedly, every person feels that his demand is just and fair. But we must note the great dissimilarity between what the fauji does, how he lives and works with risk to life and limb on the one hand, and on the other, bureaucrats who live relatively comfortable lives, receive assured promotions, draw higher salaries and earn more during their much longer service life.
It is appropriate to quote examples. Only 7% of military officers get promoted to Brigadier rank after 28 years of service, much of it in hard areas, while 100% of the Indian Police Service officers are elevated to the “equivalent” post of Director/ Inspector General after 14 years of service. Similarly, only 2% of military officers get promoted to major general after 32 years of service, while 100% of IAS officers are promoted to the “equivalent” senior administrative grade after 14 years of service. (This coincidentally shows how the Indian Administrative Service is one-up on the IPS!). But this is not about officers alone, because the status inequity goes down the hierarchy to the sepoy who, though living a much riskier life and retiring much earlier, becomes inferior to his civilian counterpart.
The load on the exchequer for providing military personnel status-service-salary parity with the IAS or police at all levels is not unaffordable considering, for example, the huge tax holidays and concessions being freely given to commercial and industrial corporations. While he freely accepts being under control of the union cabinet through the defence minister, the fauji resents the real-time control that is exercised by the bureaucracy to his personal detriment and the izzat of his service. He feels devalued, neglected and insulted. This state of affairs is undoubtedly harmful for the country’s internal and external security.
Read more
one-rank-one-pension demand
The Burden of Military pensions- by Gautam Navlakha
Current Issue : VOL 44 No. 17 April 25 - May 01, 2009
The Fauji Devalued
Live issues within the military, such as physically and psychologically trying service conditions, especially during internal security duties, insufficient living accommodation, all jawans having to retire at the age of 38, 60% officers by the age of 54, and promotions (to which pay is linked) being very limited especially in the officer cadre, have been borne without much murmur. But now the dissatisfaction in the military is at high pitch, although this may not be seen by those outside “the system” – not even those who have access to intelligence reports, because most intelligence agencies keep uncomfortable facts away from the boss. The hard fact is that, justifiable or not, most faujis and veterans harbour a grudge against the bureaucracy, which they see as the hand behind the consistent denial of their just and fair demands. Admittedly, every person feels that his demand is just and fair. But we must note the great dissimilarity between what the fauji does, how he lives and works with risk to life and limb on the one hand, and on the other, bureaucrats who live relatively comfortable lives, receive assured promotions, draw higher salaries and earn more during their much longer service life.
It is appropriate to quote examples. Only 7% of military officers get promoted to Brigadier rank after 28 years of service, much of it in hard areas, while 100% of the Indian Police Service officers are elevated to the “equivalent” post of Director/ Inspector General after 14 years of service. Similarly, only 2% of military officers get promoted to major general after 32 years of service, while 100% of IAS officers are promoted to the “equivalent” senior administrative grade after 14 years of service. (This coincidentally shows how the Indian Administrative Service is one-up on the IPS!). But this is not about officers alone, because the status inequity goes down the hierarchy to the sepoy who, though living a much riskier life and retiring much earlier, becomes inferior to his civilian counterpart.
The load on the exchequer for providing military personnel status-service-salary parity with the IAS or police at all levels is not unaffordable considering, for example, the huge tax holidays and concessions being freely given to commercial and industrial corporations. While he freely accepts being under control of the union cabinet through the defence minister, the fauji resents the real-time control that is exercised by the bureaucracy to his personal detriment and the izzat of his service. He feels devalued, neglected and insulted. This state of affairs is undoubtedly harmful for the country’s internal and external security.
Read more
one-rank-one-pension demand
The Burden of Military pensions- by Gautam Navlakha
Monday, May 4, 2009
Views of Brig CS Kamboj on OROP
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Maj Gen SG Vombatkere, is reproduced below. The attachments received along with his email are attached to this email.
On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank Maj Gen SG Vombatkere for sending this email to us.
Today, when things have started moving in favour of ESM, every one wants to take credit for this forward movement.
What were these 'movers' doing for last five decades? Why did not their type succeed in last five decades?
No doubt that efforts by all ESM organisations and individual ESM, including efforts by Former Chiefs and other senior ESM has brought about this change in favour of ESM - but what was that single most effective factor which has helped us all move forward?
While I would not give entire credit for this success of ESM movement to IESM, the fact remains that it is IESM which made the media, the public, the politicians, the power corridors, and above all the ESM themselves, aware of the 'ESM Power'.
Even the Serving Chiefs have admitted that the IESM movement has tremendously helped them to utilise full power of their representations to the Government.
I now request all the "Email Warriors", including some IESM State Conveners, who have been virtually thrashing the IESM leaders since 12 Apr 09, when the voting advisory was issued, to give a respite to the leaders of IESM and praise them whole heartedly for what they have done for you - what they have done for the entire ESM community.
It is a pity that some of the "Email Warriors" have been using foul language. Some ESM advised me that I should not circulate emails with such foul language, but I continue to do so to expose the caliber of these 'great thinking' ESM and hoping that some of you will help in educating such ESM. Cdr Pran Parashar and Cdr KK Punchhi did tell one of the ESM, who used foul language for IESM, as to what the ESM community feels about 'foul language people'.
IT IS TIME THAT WE ALL ESM STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
STOP THE "EMAIL WAR" AND ACCUSING EACH OTHER.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER.
KEEP BUILDING UP THE PRESSURE ON POWER CORRIDORS
AND COMPEL THEM TO GRANT JUSTICE TO DEFENCE SERVICES.
HONGE KAMYAB HUM EK DIN
Jai Hind.
An email received from Maj Gen SG Vombatkere, is reproduced below. The attachments received along with his email are attached to this email.
On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank Maj Gen SG Vombatkere for sending this email to us.
Today, when things have started moving in favour of ESM, every one wants to take credit for this forward movement.
What were these 'movers' doing for last five decades? Why did not their type succeed in last five decades?
No doubt that efforts by all ESM organisations and individual ESM, including efforts by Former Chiefs and other senior ESM has brought about this change in favour of ESM - but what was that single most effective factor which has helped us all move forward?
While I would not give entire credit for this success of ESM movement to IESM, the fact remains that it is IESM which made the media, the public, the politicians, the power corridors, and above all the ESM themselves, aware of the 'ESM Power'.
Even the Serving Chiefs have admitted that the IESM movement has tremendously helped them to utilise full power of their representations to the Government.
I now request all the "Email Warriors", including some IESM State Conveners, who have been virtually thrashing the IESM leaders since 12 Apr 09, when the voting advisory was issued, to give a respite to the leaders of IESM and praise them whole heartedly for what they have done for you - what they have done for the entire ESM community.
It is a pity that some of the "Email Warriors" have been using foul language. Some ESM advised me that I should not circulate emails with such foul language, but I continue to do so to expose the caliber of these 'great thinking' ESM and hoping that some of you will help in educating such ESM. Cdr Pran Parashar and Cdr KK Punchhi did tell one of the ESM, who used foul language for IESM, as to what the ESM community feels about 'foul language people'.
IT IS TIME THAT WE ALL ESM STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
STOP THE "EMAIL WAR" AND ACCUSING EACH OTHER.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER.
KEEP BUILDING UP THE PRESSURE ON POWER CORRIDORS
AND COMPEL THEM TO GRANT JUSTICE TO DEFENCE SERVICES.
HONGE KAMYAB HUM EK DIN
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.
-----------
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
----------
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)
------------
THE END
On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank Gen Sindhu for sending this email to us.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
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
----------
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)
------------
THE END
Maj gen's enhanced pension...by Maj Gen Surjit Singh
From: Maj Gen Surjit Singh surjiteme@gmail.com
Subject: IT MAY TAKE AEONS TO IMPLEMENT OROP, EVEN IF SANCTIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT!
Date: Monday, 4 May, 2009, 9:29 PM
Dear Brig Kamboj,
This evening, news has come in from Maj Gen Naresh Kumar, that the 'contempt case' was heard by the Honorable Supreme Court. The Government counsel filed a petition and sought six months to implement the court order to grant enhanced pension to the pre-1996 retired Maj Gens and equivalent.
The Honorable Judge believed that the period sought by the MoD is unreasonably long. The govt of India has, therefore, been directed to complete the process within three months.
Just think. If the govt needs six months to admit a fixed amount of money to less than 500 general officers, how long will they take to implement OROP for our 1.9 million ESM. It may take aeons to complete the process!
With best wishes,
Surjit
(Maj Gen Surjit Singh, Member IESM Steering Committee)
Subject: IT MAY TAKE AEONS TO IMPLEMENT OROP, EVEN IF SANCTIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT!
Date: Monday, 4 May, 2009, 9:29 PM
Dear Brig Kamboj,
This evening, news has come in from Maj Gen Naresh Kumar, that the 'contempt case' was heard by the Honorable Supreme Court. The Government counsel filed a petition and sought six months to implement the court order to grant enhanced pension to the pre-1996 retired Maj Gens and equivalent.
The Honorable Judge believed that the period sought by the MoD is unreasonably long. The govt of India has, therefore, been directed to complete the process within three months.
Just think. If the govt needs six months to admit a fixed amount of money to less than 500 general officers, how long will they take to implement OROP for our 1.9 million ESM. It may take aeons to complete the process!
With best wishes,
Surjit
(Maj Gen Surjit Singh, Member IESM Steering Committee)
Another news on OROP ..4th May 2009
Thaindian News
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/panel-formed-on-one-rank-one-pension-demand_100188182.html
Panel formed on one-rank-one-pension demand
May 4th, 2009 - 7:01 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Shaken by the large numbers of ex-servicemen returning their medals to protest the government’s rejection of their demand for one-rank-one-pension, a high level committee has been formed under Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar to examine the extent to which this could be achieved.
“The defence ministry is of the view that while accepting the demand for one-rank-one-pension is not feasible administratively, a case exists for bringing the pension of those retiring before 1996-97 at par with those who retired after that,” an official said Monday.
“The gap between them has widened after implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission,” the official added.
Ex-servicemen have so far returned some 13,000 medals won in combat or for distinguished service to President Pratibha Patil, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces. Patil has not met the protesters, who have handed over the medals in three batches to a member of her staff.
The Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement (IESM) says that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retires, he or she should get the same pension.
It points out that a army sepoy who retired before 1996 gets a monthly pension of Rs.3,670, while one who retired between 1996 and December 2005 gets Rs.4,680. A sepoy who retired after January 2006 gets Rs.8,700.
Effectively then, an army havildar, who retired before 1996, gets a pension that is less than that of a sepoy retiring after January 2006 though the havildar enjoys a higher rank. The mismatch applies to all ranks.
The government had earlier this year rejected the one-rank-one-pension demand, pointing to the logistical and financial problems it would create.
“The demand for one-rank-one-pension stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons,” Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju had said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Feb 18.
“However, the government is also examining whether certain improvements can be made in the pension being given to the old pensioners,” Raju added.
He pointed out that pension benefits of personnel below officer rank (PBOR), particularly of the three ranks of sepoy, naik and havildar, were significantly increased Jan 1, 2006, by increasing weightage from 5 years to 10, 8 and 6 years, respectively.
This apart, the pension of pre-Jan 1, 1996 retirees is being computed with reference to the maximum of the payscale introduced on that date, Raju added.
“In consultation with the Ministry of Finance, the benefits thus accrued to PBORs have been allowed to be retained while revisiting their pension,” Raju pointed out.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/panel-formed-on-one-rank-one-pension-demand_100188182.html
Panel formed on one-rank-one-pension demand
May 4th, 2009 - 7:01 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Shaken by the large numbers of ex-servicemen returning their medals to protest the government’s rejection of their demand for one-rank-one-pension, a high level committee has been formed under Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar to examine the extent to which this could be achieved.
“The defence ministry is of the view that while accepting the demand for one-rank-one-pension is not feasible administratively, a case exists for bringing the pension of those retiring before 1996-97 at par with those who retired after that,” an official said Monday.
“The gap between them has widened after implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission,” the official added.
Ex-servicemen have so far returned some 13,000 medals won in combat or for distinguished service to President Pratibha Patil, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces. Patil has not met the protesters, who have handed over the medals in three batches to a member of her staff.
The Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement (IESM) says that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retires, he or she should get the same pension.
It points out that a army sepoy who retired before 1996 gets a monthly pension of Rs.3,670, while one who retired between 1996 and December 2005 gets Rs.4,680. A sepoy who retired after January 2006 gets Rs.8,700.
Effectively then, an army havildar, who retired before 1996, gets a pension that is less than that of a sepoy retiring after January 2006 though the havildar enjoys a higher rank. The mismatch applies to all ranks.
The government had earlier this year rejected the one-rank-one-pension demand, pointing to the logistical and financial problems it would create.
“The demand for one-rank-one-pension stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons,” Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju had said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Feb 18.
“However, the government is also examining whether certain improvements can be made in the pension being given to the old pensioners,” Raju added.
He pointed out that pension benefits of personnel below officer rank (PBOR), particularly of the three ranks of sepoy, naik and havildar, were significantly increased Jan 1, 2006, by increasing weightage from 5 years to 10, 8 and 6 years, respectively.
This apart, the pension of pre-Jan 1, 1996 retirees is being computed with reference to the maximum of the payscale introduced on that date, Raju added.
“In consultation with the Ministry of Finance, the benefits thus accrued to PBORs have been allowed to be retained while revisiting their pension,” Raju pointed out.
OROP..High level Committees set up...
High-level committees to look at ex-servicemen's 'One Rank, One Pension' demand
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090504/808/tnl-high-level-committees-to-look-at-ex.html
Mon, May 4 05:35 PM
New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Heeding the long held demand of retired defence personnel, the Government has constituted two high-level committees to look into the various issues concerning 'One Rank, One Pension' of ex-servicemen.
In the absence of 'One Rank-One Pension', anomalies in the pension of two persons of same rank arise and also there are instances of hundreds of war veterans drawing lower amount of pension as compared to personnel who retired in the recent past.
The Government has constituted a high level committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to reduce the gap in the pensionary benefits to soldiers and officers and bring it as close to 'One Rank, One Pension'.
"The other members of the committee are Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Personnel), Secretary (Expenditure), and Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare)," said a senior Defence ministry source.
Financially the decision will additionally cost the government around 500-600 crore per annum and would be much less than the estimated financial liability for grant of OROP, the source said.
The other committee set up by the Ministry of Defence will be headed by Secretary (Defence Finance), Indu Liberhan, to sort out anomalies in the implementation of orders relating to armed forces pensioners.
The Sixth Pay Commission report had recommended 50 per cent weightage for armed forces PBORs during retirement, whereas earlier they would receive 70 per cent weightage until rehabilitated in other paramilitary forces.
By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090504/808/tnl-high-level-committees-to-look-at-ex.html
Mon, May 4 05:35 PM
New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Heeding the long held demand of retired defence personnel, the Government has constituted two high-level committees to look into the various issues concerning 'One Rank, One Pension' of ex-servicemen.
In the absence of 'One Rank-One Pension', anomalies in the pension of two persons of same rank arise and also there are instances of hundreds of war veterans drawing lower amount of pension as compared to personnel who retired in the recent past.
The Government has constituted a high level committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary to reduce the gap in the pensionary benefits to soldiers and officers and bring it as close to 'One Rank, One Pension'.
"The other members of the committee are Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Personnel), Secretary (Expenditure), and Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare)," said a senior Defence ministry source.
Financially the decision will additionally cost the government around 500-600 crore per annum and would be much less than the estimated financial liability for grant of OROP, the source said.
The other committee set up by the Ministry of Defence will be headed by Secretary (Defence Finance), Indu Liberhan, to sort out anomalies in the implementation of orders relating to armed forces pensioners.
The Sixth Pay Commission report had recommended 50 per cent weightage for armed forces PBORs during retirement, whereas earlier they would receive 70 per cent weightage until rehabilitated in other paramilitary forces.
By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)
Cols in 15 years...and views of members
THE TIMES OF INDIA
Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
2 May 2009, 0322 hrs
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Officers-to-become-Col-after-15-yrs-of-service/articleshow/4474093.cms
NEW DELHI: In a major decision impacting the age profile of Army, Navy and Air Force commanding officers, the government on Friday fixed 15 years of commissioned service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel, instead of the existing 20 years.
‘‘The government today fixed 15 years of commissioned service as the minimum qualifying service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel in the Army, captain in the Navy and group captain in the Air Force. The decision of the government has been received at the Service headquarters,’’ sources said here.
Until now, lieutenant colonels in the Army, commanders in the Navy and wing commanders in the Air Force had to put in a cumulative qualifying service of 20 years after commissioning for promotion to substantive colonel and equivalent ranks. However, they became unit commanding officers even with just 16 years of service, as per the cadre management policies of the tri-services, but had to wait for another four years to be confirmed as substantive colonels and to receive the salary of a colonel. In effect, it would mean that there would be no more ‘‘acting’’ ranks of colonel, captain and group captain in the services.
...........
From: Naval Sailors
Subject: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
To: "ramantn sarma"
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 4:28 PM
dear col
can someone think of our jawans/sailors/airmen who donot even become of havildar/petty office/sergeant even after putting in 15 yrs colour service in our defence forces
and they remove uniforms in pay band 1 only
for NAVAL ASSOCIATION
V A THEVAR
MCMECH(P) Retd
SECRETARY
.............
From: ramantn sarma
To: Core Group
Cc: Vijay Oberoi Lt Gen ; Maj Gen RN Radhakrishanan ; navalassociation@yahoo.com ; afakarYahoogroup ; afvoa chennai ; aiewa_association@rediffmail.com ; Band of Brothers ; Indian ; INEX Gp ; military veterans@ ; Naval Association ; REPORT MY SIGNAL CS Kamboj ; We Gunners @ yahoogroups .com
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 4:41 PM
Subject: [CoreG15] Fw: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
Dear Veterans,
A valid point has been made by the Naval Sailors. When so many perks could be achieved for the officers & publicised both by the Govt as well as by us in the net, what the PBOR is requsting is just a pittance. Can we take up this issue on a war footing?
Veteran Raman
---------
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: "Sunil Rao"
Cc:TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 3:07 PM
Dear Veteran sunil Rao,
Thank you for your suggestions. These would be discussed by the Core Gp.
This is to inform you that the case of PB4 was pursued by the Service Chiefs and the IESM have not pursued this point. Nor have we ever talked of the income tax exemption. Our focus has been, and continues to be, only OROP.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262
91+ 9811226676
--- On Sat, 2/5/09, Sunil Rao wrote:
From: Sunil Rao
Subject: Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: rajkadyan@yahoo. com
Cc: TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 2:59 PM
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
Introducing myself to this panel of distinquished veterans, am Ex-Sgt Sunil Rao. M.R, presently accepted as the Convener of IESM,Mysore.
The points mentioned in these reports by the panel were very informative and suggestions put forth, looked highly debatable.
As a veteran and from PBOR's collective point of view,these suggestions mentioned below could be of immense motivating factor in help building up the IESM at all levels throughout the country.
1) Aligning with any political party for the sake of pursuing our vision.
Suggestion:- We feel it is a futile exercise, as we have experienced ourselves in the garb of IESL, in the past decade.
Firstly, a list of our demands could be redrafted in brief without going into full details, and submitted to all political parties(because a voluminous memorandum would never be assimialated nor understood by them),the three service chiefs ( all of whom would be veterans shortly),before the election results are declared,and a goal has to be projected to the them in terms of days or months.This should be implemented in the manifestos of any front which heads the government.
Secondly, after the election results, the government in power has to be pressurised through a collective representation at all levels of IESM, throughout the country. HQ,IESM can draft a common memorandum and circulate to all levels of IESM, a date could be fixed throughout the country, media could be apprised of the event and then the memorandum along with local issues if any, could be handed over to the Deputy commissioners or the local heads of all districts, and most importantly, the elected MP of the constituency BY HAND. Places where IESM is yet to be formed, a copy of the draft could be sent to all District HQ'S and all the 534 MP's by name from HQ,IESM. All MP's, irrespective of political parties, they are affialated to, would then be accountable to this noble cause.
2) PBOR's, with whom I have widely networked with,mostly apolitical ones,throughout the country are a bit dissappointed seeing the names of only officers in the Governing body of IESM.
Suggestions:- Veterans from distinquished PBOR's and Widows could be nominated on the board, so as to give the esteemed IESM, the required representated impetus and motivation. During all these days of its formation and media
appraisal, the PBOR's were feeling a bit used up, in furthering the cause of just PB4 and income tax issues, and OROP was taking a back seat and loosing its priority. There are also a number of issues w.r.t disparity in pension concerning different levels of PBOR's which is totally not highlighted, educated or projected at all.
3) Sainik Boards at all levels are to be revamped and made accountable throughout the country.
Veterans of all ranks are totally disgusted at the bureacratic way of functioning, and the same lame excuses of blaming the higher formations in not responding to any positive suggestions or complaints.
Suggestions: - HQ,IESM could play a major role with the central Government, highlight the present system and revamp the whole structure and organisation of the sainik board, which has now become defunct, w.r.t pursuing the policies laid down. They have to made more accountable at all levels of their organisation.IESM running the organisation could also be thought of as a future vision, on a partnership basis. The root of the problem visible to me is that Veterans are being appointed as sainik board officials, and feel very sorry to say that these same people are trained during service years to only think inside the box and never give any thought to change their attitude of looking outside the box, after coming out of defense services.
As a paradigm shift, maybe the services of educated wives of veterans could possibily be the right anwser to this vexed problem.
Hope this points with suggestions could be an eyeopener in pursuit of IESM being more effective,lest it dilutes itself
after hopefully, OROP is achieved.
Regards,
Sunil Rao.
----------
From: raj kadyan
To: Sudhir Vombatkere
Cc: Brig C.S.KAMBOJ ; TRUNCATED
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 10:29 PM
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: ON VOTING ADVISORY AND MORE
Dear Sudhir,
All officer ESM are thinkers and have their own opinion, which is only expected of us. I generally desist from commenting on views from individual members. But allow me to clarify:
1. We are not aligned with any political party in the sense implied in your mail. We are only aligned with OROP. Any Party that committed itself to giving OROP would have got our support. You may like to read the sitrep dated 8 Feb 2009. The extract: "If the current government sanctions the OROP, we will fully support it during the elections"
2. No IESM funds are being spent on the activity as apprehended by you. I wonder what led you to this inference.
3. I have not addressed the serving pers ever. However, dispassionately speaking, the defence forces are part of the democratic society and if the serving are allowed to vote, it is but natural that vote seekers would try to influence them. We are mixing up between being politically aware and being politicised.
4. You, me and our ilk have always been concerned about the reputation of the Fauz. But it matters much less to the PBOR pensioners who are hardest hit. Should we not also stand for them?
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
2 May 2009, 0322 hrs
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Officers-to-become-Col-after-15-yrs-of-service/articleshow/4474093.cms
NEW DELHI: In a major decision impacting the age profile of Army, Navy and Air Force commanding officers, the government on Friday fixed 15 years of commissioned service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel, instead of the existing 20 years.
‘‘The government today fixed 15 years of commissioned service as the minimum qualifying service for substantive promotion to the rank of colonel in the Army, captain in the Navy and group captain in the Air Force. The decision of the government has been received at the Service headquarters,’’ sources said here.
Until now, lieutenant colonels in the Army, commanders in the Navy and wing commanders in the Air Force had to put in a cumulative qualifying service of 20 years after commissioning for promotion to substantive colonel and equivalent ranks. However, they became unit commanding officers even with just 16 years of service, as per the cadre management policies of the tri-services, but had to wait for another four years to be confirmed as substantive colonels and to receive the salary of a colonel. In effect, it would mean that there would be no more ‘‘acting’’ ranks of colonel, captain and group captain in the services.
...........
From: Naval Sailors
Subject: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
To: "ramantn sarma"
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 4:28 PM
dear col
can someone think of our jawans/sailors/airmen who donot even become of havildar/petty office/sergeant even after putting in 15 yrs colour service in our defence forces
and they remove uniforms in pay band 1 only
for NAVAL ASSOCIATION
V A THEVAR
MCMECH(P) Retd
SECRETARY
.............
From: ramantn sarma
To: Core Group
Cc: Vijay Oberoi Lt Gen ; Maj Gen RN Radhakrishanan ; navalassociation@yahoo.com ; afakarYahoogroup ; afvoa chennai ; aiewa_association@rediffmail.com ; Band of Brothers ; Indian ; INEX Gp ; military veterans@ ; Naval Association ; REPORT MY SIGNAL CS Kamboj ; We Gunners @ yahoogroups .com
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 4:41 PM
Subject: [CoreG15] Fw: Re: Fw: [afakar] Officers to become Col after 15 yrs of service
Dear Veterans,
A valid point has been made by the Naval Sailors. When so many perks could be achieved for the officers & publicised both by the Govt as well as by us in the net, what the PBOR is requsting is just a pittance. Can we take up this issue on a war footing?
Veteran Raman
---------
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: "Sunil Rao"
Cc:TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 3:07 PM
Dear Veteran sunil Rao,
Thank you for your suggestions. These would be discussed by the Core Gp.
This is to inform you that the case of PB4 was pursued by the Service Chiefs and the IESM have not pursued this point. Nor have we ever talked of the income tax exemption. Our focus has been, and continues to be, only OROP.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262
91+ 9811226676
--- On Sat, 2/5/09, Sunil Rao
From: Sunil Rao
Subject: Re: FOR "REPORT MY SIGNALS"
To: rajkadyan@yahoo. com
Cc: TRUNCATED
Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 2:59 PM
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
Introducing myself to this panel of distinquished veterans, am Ex-Sgt Sunil Rao. M.R, presently accepted as the Convener of IESM,Mysore.
The points mentioned in these reports by the panel were very informative and suggestions put forth, looked highly debatable.
As a veteran and from PBOR's collective point of view,these suggestions mentioned below could be of immense motivating factor in help building up the IESM at all levels throughout the country.
1) Aligning with any political party for the sake of pursuing our vision.
Suggestion:- We feel it is a futile exercise, as we have experienced ourselves in the garb of IESL, in the past decade.
Firstly, a list of our demands could be redrafted in brief without going into full details, and submitted to all political parties(because a voluminous memorandum would never be assimialated nor understood by them),the three service chiefs ( all of whom would be veterans shortly),before the election results are declared,and a goal has to be projected to the them in terms of days or months.This should be implemented in the manifestos of any front which heads the government.
Secondly, after the election results, the government in power has to be pressurised through a collective representation at all levels of IESM, throughout the country. HQ,IESM can draft a common memorandum and circulate to all levels of IESM, a date could be fixed throughout the country, media could be apprised of the event and then the memorandum along with local issues if any, could be handed over to the Deputy commissioners or the local heads of all districts, and most importantly, the elected MP of the constituency BY HAND. Places where IESM is yet to be formed, a copy of the draft could be sent to all District HQ'S and all the 534 MP's by name from HQ,IESM. All MP's, irrespective of political parties, they are affialated to, would then be accountable to this noble cause.
2) PBOR's, with whom I have widely networked with,mostly apolitical ones,throughout the country are a bit dissappointed seeing the names of only officers in the Governing body of IESM.
Suggestions:- Veterans from distinquished PBOR's and Widows could be nominated on the board, so as to give the esteemed IESM, the required representated impetus and motivation. During all these days of its formation and media
appraisal, the PBOR's were feeling a bit used up, in furthering the cause of just PB4 and income tax issues, and OROP was taking a back seat and loosing its priority. There are also a number of issues w.r.t disparity in pension concerning different levels of PBOR's which is totally not highlighted, educated or projected at all.
3) Sainik Boards at all levels are to be revamped and made accountable throughout the country.
Veterans of all ranks are totally disgusted at the bureacratic way of functioning, and the same lame excuses of blaming the higher formations in not responding to any positive suggestions or complaints.
Suggestions: - HQ,IESM could play a major role with the central Government, highlight the present system and revamp the whole structure and organisation of the sainik board, which has now become defunct, w.r.t pursuing the policies laid down. They have to made more accountable at all levels of their organisation.IESM running the organisation could also be thought of as a future vision, on a partnership basis. The root of the problem visible to me is that Veterans are being appointed as sainik board officials, and feel very sorry to say that these same people are trained during service years to only think inside the box and never give any thought to change their attitude of looking outside the box, after coming out of defense services.
As a paradigm shift, maybe the services of educated wives of veterans could possibily be the right anwser to this vexed problem.
Hope this points with suggestions could be an eyeopener in pursuit of IESM being more effective,lest it dilutes itself
after hopefully, OROP is achieved.
Regards,
Sunil Rao.
----------
From: raj kadyan
To: Sudhir Vombatkere
Cc: Brig C.S.KAMBOJ ; TRUNCATED
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 10:29 PM
Subject: [Stg_Comm] Re: ON VOTING ADVISORY AND MORE
Dear Sudhir,
All officer ESM are thinkers and have their own opinion, which is only expected of us. I generally desist from commenting on views from individual members. But allow me to clarify:
1. We are not aligned with any political party in the sense implied in your mail. We are only aligned with OROP. Any Party that committed itself to giving OROP would have got our support. You may like to read the sitrep dated 8 Feb 2009. The extract: "If the current government sanctions the OROP, we will fully support it during the elections"
2. No IESM funds are being spent on the activity as apprehended by you. I wonder what led you to this inference.
3. I have not addressed the serving pers ever. However, dispassionately speaking, the defence forces are part of the democratic society and if the serving are allowed to vote, it is but natural that vote seekers would try to influence them. We are mixing up between being politically aware and being politicised.
4. You, me and our ilk have always been concerned about the reputation of the Fauz. But it matters much less to the PBOR pensioners who are hardest hit. Should we not also stand for them?
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Invitation to Constitution club 03 May 2009 at 5 PM
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
(Note:This email is mainly meant for the ESM officers and families in NCR, but as I do not have emails of ESM officers of NCR, the email is being sent to all members.)
An email received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Vice Chairman IESM, is reproduced below.
The attachments received with his email are also attached to this email.
Kindly give wide publicity to the contents of Gen Satbir's email and the attachments.
It is an open invitation to all ESM Officers and families to Constitution Club at Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
The function is from 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM, on Sunday, 3 May 09.
Deluxe buses are being arranged for transportation from Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Noida. Please give your names to the conveners as mentioned in the emails below.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
From: satbir singh
To: EDITED
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 2:21 PM
Subject: Invitation BJP for 03 May 2009
Dear Members of the Stg Committee
1. Please refer to Gen Renjen’s mail dated 29 Apr 09 (Reproduced below).
2. Due to some logistic issues, the interactive session by the friends of BJP in coordination with IESM will now be held at Speakers Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg Behind Reserve Bank of India, New Delhi, on 3rd May 2009 at 5 PM. This is primarily for all ESM officers and their families in NCR. An invitation is enclosed. The details of venue, timings and speakers are given in the invitations.
3. Maximum attendance is requested. Ladies are welcome. The session will be in english. All of you are requested to circulate the message and persuade your contacts to attend. We are expecting, and have assured the BJP of, strength of 500 officers and ladies from the NCR.
4. Deluxe buses will be positioned at desired locations in NOIDA, GURGAON, GAZIABAD, FARIDABAD, and DELHI for conveying the officers and their ladies, if required.
5. Delhi - Col Kirit Joshipura at 9910439890 & kiritjoshipura999@ hotmail.com and Wg Cdr CK Sharma at 9811424933, 9312219302 and seekayess@gmail. com
6. Noida - Cdr Sharan Ahuja at 9811078735 & sharanahuja@ gmail.com and Gp Capt VK Gandhi at 9810541222 & vk_gandhi@yahoo. com
7. Gaziabad - Maj Gen AJB Jaini at 9810180189 & ajbjaini@hotmail. com and Col TP Tyagi at 9313922889 & tptyagi@gmail. com
8.. Gurgaon - Vice Admiral Barin Ghose at 9871381479 & bag1944@yahoo. co.in and Maj Gen PK Renjen at 9810044542 & prenjen@hotmail. com and Col Kanwar Bhardwaj at 9818280279 & col_cps@rediffmail. com
9. Faridabad - Col Kanwar Bhardwaj at 9818280279 & col_cps@rediffmail. com
10. You are requested to motivate maximum ESM and their ladies at each location to attend the session. High Tea is being arranged. Delus buses will be provided. The coordinators are requested inform the number of buses required at each location. These buses may be hired by the respective coordinator at each location. Funds will be provided for the same.
11. We have short notice. We will have to put in lot efforts to make the session a grand success. I request you to kindly do an extra bit to inform, motivate and bring maximum ESM and their ladies to attend the session.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Jai Hind.
(Note:This email is mainly meant for the ESM officers and families in NCR, but as I do not have emails of ESM officers of NCR, the email is being sent to all members.)
An email received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Vice Chairman IESM, is reproduced below.
The attachments received with his email are also attached to this email.
Kindly give wide publicity to the contents of Gen Satbir's email and the attachments.
It is an open invitation to all ESM Officers and families to Constitution Club at Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
The function is from 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM, on Sunday, 3 May 09.
Deluxe buses are being arranged for transportation from Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Noida. Please give your names to the conveners as mentioned in the emails below.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
From: satbir singh
To: EDITED
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 2:21 PM
Subject: Invitation BJP for 03 May 2009
Dear Members of the Stg Committee
1. Please refer to Gen Renjen’s mail dated 29 Apr 09 (Reproduced below).
2. Due to some logistic issues, the interactive session by the friends of BJP in coordination with IESM will now be held at Speakers Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg Behind Reserve Bank of India, New Delhi, on 3rd May 2009 at 5 PM. This is primarily for all ESM officers and their families in NCR. An invitation is enclosed. The details of venue, timings and speakers are given in the invitations.
3. Maximum attendance is requested. Ladies are welcome. The session will be in english. All of you are requested to circulate the message and persuade your contacts to attend. We are expecting, and have assured the BJP of, strength of 500 officers and ladies from the NCR.
4. Deluxe buses will be positioned at desired locations in NOIDA, GURGAON, GAZIABAD, FARIDABAD, and DELHI for conveying the officers and their ladies, if required.
5. Delhi - Col Kirit Joshipura at 9910439890 & kiritjoshipura999@ hotmail.com and Wg Cdr CK Sharma at 9811424933, 9312219302 and seekayess@gmail. com
6. Noida - Cdr Sharan Ahuja at 9811078735 & sharanahuja@ gmail.com and Gp Capt VK Gandhi at 9810541222 & vk_gandhi@yahoo. com
7. Gaziabad - Maj Gen AJB Jaini at 9810180189 & ajbjaini@hotmail. com and Col TP Tyagi at 9313922889 & tptyagi@gmail. com
8.. Gurgaon - Vice Admiral Barin Ghose at 9871381479 & bag1944@yahoo. co.in and Maj Gen PK Renjen at 9810044542 & prenjen@hotmail. com and Col Kanwar Bhardwaj at 9818280279 & col_cps@rediffmail. com
9. Faridabad - Col Kanwar Bhardwaj at 9818280279 & col_cps@rediffmail. com
10. You are requested to motivate maximum ESM and their ladies at each location to attend the session. High Tea is being arranged. Delus buses will be provided. The coordinators are requested inform the number of buses required at each location. These buses may be hired by the respective coordinator at each location. Funds will be provided for the same.
11. We have short notice. We will have to put in lot efforts to make the session a grand success. I request you to kindly do an extra bit to inform, motivate and bring maximum ESM and their ladies to attend the session.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Friday, May 1, 2009
DGR : Securities Agencies --Rules flouted
From: James Kanagaraj
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:51 AM
Subject: DGR: Security Agencies- Rules Flouted
Dear all,
I have posted an article titled: Security Agencies Rules flouted at link (click) http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com/2009/04/security-agencies-rules-flouted.html
This is is to assist Jawans who seek employment in Security agencies run by Defence Officers to be forewarned and informed.
With regards and best wishes
James Kanagaraj
(Lt Col James Kanagaraj, Moderator Report My Signal Blog Team)
(All ESM are requested to give wide publicity among PBOR to the contents of the article at the above Blog. We must stop ESM PBOR being cheated by any unscrupulous officers running a security agency.
We also request that the ESM running security agencies should kindly apprise the PBOR employed by them of all their entitlements and ensure their genuine welfare. We are sure that most of the officers running security agencies must be doing so. If you come to know of any violations do not hesitate reporting the matter to DGR).
THANK YOU – Chander Kamboj)
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:51 AM
Subject: DGR: Security Agencies- Rules Flouted
Dear all,
I have posted an article titled: Security Agencies Rules flouted at link (click) http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com/2009/04/security-agencies-rules-flouted.html
This is is to assist Jawans who seek employment in Security agencies run by Defence Officers to be forewarned and informed.
With regards and best wishes
James Kanagaraj
(Lt Col James Kanagaraj, Moderator Report My Signal Blog Team)
(All ESM are requested to give wide publicity among PBOR to the contents of the article at the above Blog. We must stop ESM PBOR being cheated by any unscrupulous officers running a security agency.
We also request that the ESM running security agencies should kindly apprise the PBOR employed by them of all their entitlements and ensure their genuine welfare. We are sure that most of the officers running security agencies must be doing so. If you come to know of any violations do not hesitate reporting the matter to DGR).
THANK YOU – Chander Kamboj)
Views by some...30 Apr 2009
To,
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Some of the emails received from members are reproduced below.
On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank all the members who have sent these emails to us.
Secondly - Reference emails below from Maj Gen Rajendra Prakash, AVM RP Mishra and Maj Bhupal Singh, regarding Email 359/2009. I apologise to these veterans and all other veterans who felt hurt with the contents of email 359/2009.
But let me also inform you all as to what drove me to use that unduly harsh language - till yesterday we had a veteran who was the Convener of IESM Punjab. All of a sudden yesterday he started canvassing for Indian National Congress and its allies. I was shocked with this news - but that does not justify the rude language used by me in the Email 359/2009.
IESM once again appeals to you all to vote for BJP and its allies but of course you all are free to vote for any one you wish to.
AS A GOOD CITIZEN OF INDIA
VOTE YOU MUST.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
From: Rajendra Prakash rp1930@gmail.com
Subject: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, (NOT FOR NET).
To: "Kamboj,CS, Brig" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Cc: "IESM - Kadyan, Raj, Lt Gen" rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, 30 April, 2009, 12:08 PM
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
Let me say at the outset, that I am going to vote BJP on 13 May, here, out of my own conviction.
Having established my credentials with IESM, I feel entitled to make as candid a response to your personal opinions, as your have done so bluntly and publically, on the Internet, in 'RmS' No 359/2009.
Personally, I am surprised and disappointed at the tone of recent issues of "Report my Signal", specifically, 'RmS' No 359/2009. Do you really believe that all your comrades who are not for BJP have a 'personal agenda', are 'shamefully betraying the Defence personnel', and are foolish to have an 'ethos'. Are you seriously implying that only you people have the interest of PBOR at heart, know the best, and anyone differing, does it at his peril - a pure fascist concept, I am afraid !
Expression of your opinions and advice, so vehemently and offensively will not convince many at our age and service, to drop life-long norms of behavior as officers (and hopefully, gentlemen), for a passing expediency ? Life will go on, even after Elections, 2009 !
May I suggest that convincing but moderate language in 'RmS', and respect for brother officers may fetch IESM more dividends, than plain abuse.
I for one would not like to read 'RmS', if it continues in the same vein.
Sincerely,
Rajendra Prakash.
Dehradun.
--------------
From: RP Mishra avmrpm@gmail.com
Subject: Personal motives for voting for congress
To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Thursday, 30 April, 2009, 12:11 PM
This is with reference to your REPORT MY SIGNAL mail 359/2009. I reproduce an extract below "Probably all those veterans who still want to support Indian National Congress and its allies have some personal agenda in view and have no value for the interest of other Defence personnel and their families. They have no shame in betraying the interests of Defence personnel."
I felt rather sorry on reading the above remark. While an advice can be given to ex-servicemen bringing out pros and cons of voting to a particular party, finally it is for the voter to decide, based on his own judgement , whether to follow any one's advice. It is hitting below the belt if he is told that he had personal agenda for not voting for a particular party.
Actually what the above remark brings out is that if some one votes for congress, he will be assumed to be a traiter as far as cause of ESM are concerned. Subhash Chandra Bose did not agree with Mahatma Gandhi that peaceful methods can achieve independence, and he chose to form INA. Just because he went his own way, can he be termed unpatriotic. My request is that advisory may be permitted to remain advisory rather than attributing motives if one votes as per his conscience.
Regards
AVM RP Mishra
D-187 Jal Vayu Vihar, Sector-30, Gurgaon-122001
0124-4032590avmrpm@gmail.com
-----------
From: bhupal singh
To: Kamboj Chander ; CS Kamboj
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:35 PM
Subject: RE: "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL FROM VICE CHAIRMAN IESM and BRIG SVS CHOWDHARY - EMAIL 359/2009 - 28 APR 09 - (A to B)
Dear All,
I agree with the views of Brig Chander Kamboj ( suggest be a little mild- a humble & friendly suggestion- in ur language, no offence intended), Gen Satbir Singh & Brig SVS Cahaudhary. We must give one chnace to BJP & its constituents to live by its promise. Let us try it. Congress Party ( INC) & it allies have done nothing significant for all of us, both serving & retired. Hence it stands to reason that we all unitedly vote for the alternative. With best wishes,
Bhupal Singh, Veteran
--------------
From: kkrishan123@sify.com
To: kamboj@itintellectuals.com; prenjen@hotmail.com; hrwntsingh@yahoo.co.in; rajkadyan@yahoo.com; satbirsm@yahoo.com; sadhusohi@gmail.com
Subject: FW: Reaching out to the Villages by IESM, Panchkula
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:19:07 +0530
In our drive to further disseminate the IESM message, and to canvas for the BJP for the forthcoming voting in Haryana, four of us ─ Lt Col SS Kalia, Col RS Kaushal, Brig SS Jaswal, and Brig Kiran Krishan visited three villages, Raipur Rani, Barwala, and Ratte Wali on April 29. All the meetings were well attended, but Ratte wali was a surprise ─ about 15 rural ladies listened to us with rapt attention along with a crowd of 50 or so, about 25 of whom were ex-servicemen. All the meetings were addressed by Lt Col SS Kalia and self, ably buttressed with pungent arguments by Brig Jaswal and Col Kaushal. It all went down rather well.
Lot of ex-servicemen are still clueless about their pensions. We dished out the tables sent to us with a write-up on Jan 8, 2009 or thereabouts by Maj Gen Satbir Singh. Here is a suggestion. The same handout should be updated with our latest achievements, and changes accepted by the Government after that date under pressure, duly reflected as such, should be sent to us in double QuickTime. If possible, a translation in Hindi should be included. About 100 application forms were also distributed, along with other IESM literature. We intend following up after the elections.
More such visits are on the cards.
The BJP logistic support was lacking despite that we are undertaking canvassing for them. We are using own resources.
Regards,
Brig Kiran Krishan, SM (Retd)
Coordinator, IESM
Panchkula
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Some of the emails received from members are reproduced below.
On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank all the members who have sent these emails to us.
Secondly - Reference emails below from Maj Gen Rajendra Prakash, AVM RP Mishra and Maj Bhupal Singh, regarding Email 359/2009. I apologise to these veterans and all other veterans who felt hurt with the contents of email 359/2009.
But let me also inform you all as to what drove me to use that unduly harsh language - till yesterday we had a veteran who was the Convener of IESM Punjab. All of a sudden yesterday he started canvassing for Indian National Congress and its allies. I was shocked with this news - but that does not justify the rude language used by me in the Email 359/2009.
IESM once again appeals to you all to vote for BJP and its allies but of course you all are free to vote for any one you wish to.
AS A GOOD CITIZEN OF INDIA
VOTE YOU MUST.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
From: Rajendra Prakash rp1930@gmail.com
Subject: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, (NOT FOR NET).
To: "Kamboj,CS, Brig" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Cc: "IESM - Kadyan, Raj, Lt Gen" rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, 30 April, 2009, 12:08 PM
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
Let me say at the outset, that I am going to vote BJP on 13 May, here, out of my own conviction.
Having established my credentials with IESM, I feel entitled to make as candid a response to your personal opinions, as your have done so bluntly and publically, on the Internet, in 'RmS' No 359/2009.
Personally, I am surprised and disappointed at the tone of recent issues of "Report my Signal", specifically, 'RmS' No 359/2009. Do you really believe that all your comrades who are not for BJP have a 'personal agenda', are 'shamefully betraying the Defence personnel', and are foolish to have an 'ethos'. Are you seriously implying that only you people have the interest of PBOR at heart, know the best, and anyone differing, does it at his peril - a pure fascist concept, I am afraid !
Expression of your opinions and advice, so vehemently and offensively will not convince many at our age and service, to drop life-long norms of behavior as officers (and hopefully, gentlemen), for a passing expediency ? Life will go on, even after Elections, 2009 !
May I suggest that convincing but moderate language in 'RmS', and respect for brother officers may fetch IESM more dividends, than plain abuse.
I for one would not like to read 'RmS', if it continues in the same vein.
Sincerely,
Rajendra Prakash.
Dehradun.
--------------
From: RP Mishra avmrpm@gmail.com
Subject: Personal motives for voting for congress
To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Thursday, 30 April, 2009, 12:11 PM
This is with reference to your REPORT MY SIGNAL mail 359/2009. I reproduce an extract below "Probably all those veterans who still want to support Indian National Congress and its allies have some personal agenda in view and have no value for the interest of other Defence personnel and their families. They have no shame in betraying the interests of Defence personnel."
I felt rather sorry on reading the above remark. While an advice can be given to ex-servicemen bringing out pros and cons of voting to a particular party, finally it is for the voter to decide, based on his own judgement , whether to follow any one's advice. It is hitting below the belt if he is told that he had personal agenda for not voting for a particular party.
Actually what the above remark brings out is that if some one votes for congress, he will be assumed to be a traiter as far as cause of ESM are concerned. Subhash Chandra Bose did not agree with Mahatma Gandhi that peaceful methods can achieve independence, and he chose to form INA. Just because he went his own way, can he be termed unpatriotic. My request is that advisory may be permitted to remain advisory rather than attributing motives if one votes as per his conscience.
Regards
AVM RP Mishra
D-187 Jal Vayu Vihar, Sector-30, Gurgaon-122001
0124-4032590avmrpm@gmail.com
-----------
From: bhupal singh
To: Kamboj Chander ; CS Kamboj
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:35 PM
Subject: RE: "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL FROM VICE CHAIRMAN IESM and BRIG SVS CHOWDHARY - EMAIL 359/2009 - 28 APR 09 - (A to B)
Dear All,
I agree with the views of Brig Chander Kamboj ( suggest be a little mild- a humble & friendly suggestion- in ur language, no offence intended), Gen Satbir Singh & Brig SVS Cahaudhary. We must give one chnace to BJP & its constituents to live by its promise. Let us try it. Congress Party ( INC) & it allies have done nothing significant for all of us, both serving & retired. Hence it stands to reason that we all unitedly vote for the alternative. With best wishes,
Bhupal Singh, Veteran
--------------
From: kkrishan123@sify.com
To: kamboj@itintellectuals.com; prenjen@hotmail.com; hrwntsingh@yahoo.co.in; rajkadyan@yahoo.com; satbirsm@yahoo.com; sadhusohi@gmail.com
Subject: FW: Reaching out to the Villages by IESM, Panchkula
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:19:07 +0530
In our drive to further disseminate the IESM message, and to canvas for the BJP for the forthcoming voting in Haryana, four of us ─ Lt Col SS Kalia, Col RS Kaushal, Brig SS Jaswal, and Brig Kiran Krishan visited three villages, Raipur Rani, Barwala, and Ratte Wali on April 29. All the meetings were well attended, but Ratte wali was a surprise ─ about 15 rural ladies listened to us with rapt attention along with a crowd of 50 or so, about 25 of whom were ex-servicemen. All the meetings were addressed by Lt Col SS Kalia and self, ably buttressed with pungent arguments by Brig Jaswal and Col Kaushal. It all went down rather well.
Lot of ex-servicemen are still clueless about their pensions. We dished out the tables sent to us with a write-up on Jan 8, 2009 or thereabouts by Maj Gen Satbir Singh. Here is a suggestion. The same handout should be updated with our latest achievements, and changes accepted by the Government after that date under pressure, duly reflected as such, should be sent to us in double QuickTime. If possible, a translation in Hindi should be included. About 100 application forms were also distributed, along with other IESM literature. We intend following up after the elections.
More such visits are on the cards.
The BJP logistic support was lacking despite that we are undertaking canvassing for them. We are using own resources.
Regards,
Brig Kiran Krishan, SM (Retd)
Coordinator, IESM
Panchkula
Views by Lt Gen HB Kala (Retd).....HAG for Lt gen's
From: H B Kala hbkala@hotmail.com
Date: Wednesday, 29 April, 2009, 8:36 AM
I agree with all my seniors and colleagues that upgradation of 33 per cent Lt Gens to HAG Plus scale will only further aggrevate the problem. Besides other repurcussions, its implementation will pose functional problems. As I understand, if accepted by the Service Chiefs, each arm and service is likely to be allotted a fixed number of vacancies which will be further sub-allocated to the individuals on the basis of seniority. It means that almost all the corps commanders will be denied this upgradation, being the junior most in the rank. Consequently, a DGP police will 'continue' to remain senior to the Corps Commander, an equation that defeats the very purpose of the new dispensation.
It is also not necessary that every Lt Gen would retire in the HAG Plus scale. Officers, with barely two years residual service at the time of promotion, may discover that they do not make it to the privileged 33 per cent upper crust at the time of their retirement.
Obviously, our bureaucrats continue to remain ignorant about the finer aspects of our functioning. They have only compounded the problem further.
Regards
Hira Kala
(Lt Gen HB Kala, Former Army Commander, Western Command)
----------
From: prem parkash batra
To: ranjitrai123@gmail.com
Cc:EDITED
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:11 PM
Subject: Speak By: Shri Arun Shourie=India's Defence Policy -Safe Guarding National Security: 7th Maj Gen Samir Memorial Lecture At USI -29th April 2009
Commodore Ranjit B Rai 29th April 2009
SPEAK BY SHRI ARUN SHOURIE:
INDIA'S DEFENCE POLICY- SAFE GUARDING NATIONAL SECURITY
7TH MAJOR GENERAL SAMIR SINHA MEMORIAL LECTURE-
29TH APRIL 2009 AT USI
Dear Sir,
1. Today I attended the above captioned talk by Shri Arun Sourie at USI. The Auditorium was nearly 3/4th plus full after a long time. Air Chief Marshal Retired Tyagi chaired the session with the new Director Lt Gen PK Singh on the dais as the Initiator.
2. In my view, it perhaps was lesson by a Politician in National Security and India's Defence Policy. The Chair was adequate and more of an Air Force whistle than Tri-Service think. It was an impressive strategic think and answered the questions with capacity, knowledge and depth. He got a good ovation at the end. Some body said he is RM material.
3. Perhaps nearer your way of thinking but at a higher level. I think you have missed a good appreciation. Knowing your penchant I can but apprise you of some of the salient points that hit me and as I remember them.I do not know whether you can get a summary from USI. But may be some of your friends can help. Try VADM Inder Bedi.
4.
A. Pakistan will not change its one point agenda. He cannot understand how helping a professed Enemy can advance India's security. Whether it is present dispensation or Taliban, it would remain adversarial to India.
B. Have a 20 years plan for China. Pakistan is its outsourced client for keeping nuisance value of India in check.
D. China is advancing at an astounding speed in Nepal. It has a strong influence in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka via Pakistan. It is going to spend $100 Billion in South America. And it is going to outsource its production to Africa in a big way. China is welcomed there with open arms.
E. China has not rescinded from any of its positions vis-a-vis India.
F. Europe is bought out by China.
G. Be prepared for a USA withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, elaborate smoke screen not withstanding.
H. Russia is decreasing in its population.
J. China would overtake Japan as the 2nd biggest economy next year.
5. GATBHANDAN Politics in India are going to get worse.
6. Civil Bureaucracy is not going to change.
7. Has any Chief ever put in his Papers for any thing. Forget about Gen Thimmaya case. If three Chiefs sign and put a case, would Govt. reject it!
8. Why are you waiting for Govt. to approve your Military Strategic Policy? Why you do not go ahead and implement?
9. Have you ever let the Govt know about the consequences of delays in sanctions or put in your papers.
10. Chief of Defence Staff. It is necessary but instead of pulling each other down have you let the Govt. know of your collective thinking.
11. There are certain things that being in Service you may find difficult to put it across. Then use your retired fraternity and put your perspectives in public domain. What are you afraid of? I am the only Editor of Daily who has been sacked twice. I have had three CBI inquiries. They came to my house many a times. But I got a clean chit every time.
12. I hope you do get some 'FUNDAS'.
With best regards,
Prem Batra
(Cdr Prem P Batra, New Delhi)
------------
From: Cdr Sharan Ahuja
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:48 PM
Subject: Maha Rally 12 Apr link for iesm rally on "YOUTUBE"
Dear All,
Here is the link for the Maha Rally of 12 apr 2009 in youtube and also on the site www..iesm.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2izr31bs8&feature=channel_page
Pls use the link above direct or download from the site. Kindly give this wide publicity.
Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.org
News Update every hour
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
Date: Wednesday, 29 April, 2009, 8:36 AM
I agree with all my seniors and colleagues that upgradation of 33 per cent Lt Gens to HAG Plus scale will only further aggrevate the problem. Besides other repurcussions, its implementation will pose functional problems. As I understand, if accepted by the Service Chiefs, each arm and service is likely to be allotted a fixed number of vacancies which will be further sub-allocated to the individuals on the basis of seniority. It means that almost all the corps commanders will be denied this upgradation, being the junior most in the rank. Consequently, a DGP police will 'continue' to remain senior to the Corps Commander, an equation that defeats the very purpose of the new dispensation.
It is also not necessary that every Lt Gen would retire in the HAG Plus scale. Officers, with barely two years residual service at the time of promotion, may discover that they do not make it to the privileged 33 per cent upper crust at the time of their retirement.
Obviously, our bureaucrats continue to remain ignorant about the finer aspects of our functioning. They have only compounded the problem further.
Regards
Hira Kala
(Lt Gen HB Kala, Former Army Commander, Western Command)
----------
From: prem parkash batra
To: ranjitrai123@gmail.com
Cc:EDITED
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:11 PM
Subject: Speak By: Shri Arun Shourie=India's Defence Policy -Safe Guarding National Security: 7th Maj Gen Samir Memorial Lecture At USI -29th April 2009
Commodore Ranjit B Rai 29th April 2009
SPEAK BY SHRI ARUN SHOURIE:
INDIA'S DEFENCE POLICY- SAFE GUARDING NATIONAL SECURITY
7TH MAJOR GENERAL SAMIR SINHA MEMORIAL LECTURE-
29TH APRIL 2009 AT USI
Dear Sir,
1. Today I attended the above captioned talk by Shri Arun Sourie at USI. The Auditorium was nearly 3/4th plus full after a long time. Air Chief Marshal Retired Tyagi chaired the session with the new Director Lt Gen PK Singh on the dais as the Initiator.
2. In my view, it perhaps was lesson by a Politician in National Security and India's Defence Policy. The Chair was adequate and more of an Air Force whistle than Tri-Service think. It was an impressive strategic think and answered the questions with capacity, knowledge and depth. He got a good ovation at the end. Some body said he is RM material.
3. Perhaps nearer your way of thinking but at a higher level. I think you have missed a good appreciation. Knowing your penchant I can but apprise you of some of the salient points that hit me and as I remember them.I do not know whether you can get a summary from USI. But may be some of your friends can help. Try VADM Inder Bedi.
4.
A. Pakistan will not change its one point agenda. He cannot understand how helping a professed Enemy can advance India's security. Whether it is present dispensation or Taliban, it would remain adversarial to India.
B. Have a 20 years plan for China. Pakistan is its outsourced client for keeping nuisance value of India in check.
D. China is advancing at an astounding speed in Nepal. It has a strong influence in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka via Pakistan. It is going to spend $100 Billion in South America. And it is going to outsource its production to Africa in a big way. China is welcomed there with open arms.
E. China has not rescinded from any of its positions vis-a-vis India.
F. Europe is bought out by China.
G. Be prepared for a USA withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, elaborate smoke screen not withstanding.
H. Russia is decreasing in its population.
J. China would overtake Japan as the 2nd biggest economy next year.
5. GATBHANDAN Politics in India are going to get worse.
6. Civil Bureaucracy is not going to change.
7. Has any Chief ever put in his Papers for any thing. Forget about Gen Thimmaya case. If three Chiefs sign and put a case, would Govt. reject it!
8. Why are you waiting for Govt. to approve your Military Strategic Policy? Why you do not go ahead and implement?
9. Have you ever let the Govt know about the consequences of delays in sanctions or put in your papers.
10. Chief of Defence Staff. It is necessary but instead of pulling each other down have you let the Govt. know of your collective thinking.
11. There are certain things that being in Service you may find difficult to put it across. Then use your retired fraternity and put your perspectives in public domain. What are you afraid of? I am the only Editor of Daily who has been sacked twice. I have had three CBI inquiries. They came to my house many a times. But I got a clean chit every time.
12. I hope you do get some 'FUNDAS'.
With best regards,
Prem Batra
(Cdr Prem P Batra, New Delhi)
------------
From: Cdr Sharan Ahuja
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:48 PM
Subject: Maha Rally 12 Apr link for iesm rally on "YOUTUBE"
Dear All,
Here is the link for the Maha Rally of 12 apr 2009 in youtube and also on the site www..iesm.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2izr31bs8&feature=channel_page
Pls use the link above direct or download from the site. Kindly give this wide publicity.
Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.org
News Update every hour
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
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