Navy Foundation Kochi emulates Delhi Charter...by R Adm George Kuruvilla

From: pravesh renjen
To: georgekuruvilla2000@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:05 PM
Subject: [CoreG15] FW: Members - IESM


Dear Admiral,

First thanx for the Mem drive. Well done. God Bless you all in Kerala. Keep the drive going.

Second, henceforth, please register 'on line' on the web site www.iesm.org . Go to site, click register, click online registration and fill data. Help us manage data entry. However, if you cannot do that, please continue with the present mode. We shall do the needful at our end.

Third, pl DO NOT retain any money from the collections. Please tell me and I shall reimburse expdr. If you wish, pl open an acct with HDFC. We shall send you necessary papers and auth. Tell us and we will remit an imprest amount. Thereafter, send us acct of expdr on monthly basis.

Request deposit 2000/- retained, into our acct. Let me know in whose name should I send 2000/- in lieu and I will courier.

Fourth, pl delete my yahoo id from your records. It is not valid any more. My id is prenjen@hotmail.com



Maj Gen (Retd) PK Renjen, AVSM
Ph: 9810044542




--- On Sat, 28/3/09, george kuruvilla wrote:

From: george kuruvilla
Subject: Members - IESM
To: "Lt Gen Raj Kadyan" , "satbir singh" , "Gen P Renjen"
Date: Saturday, 28 March, 2009, 8:23 PM


Dear Sirs,


1) Completed membership form of 58 members and details of remittance to Bank were forwarded to the regd address on 20/03/09 through Professional Courier vide their invoice no.24283505. The membership fee and donations collected were credited to the ac/no 06162000001330 on 19/03/09:From the donations received ( not the membership fee) Lt Cdr PKN Pillai ( Retd)( Secretary -Membership Campaign ) has been authorised to keep Rs 2000/-towards misc expenses in connection with membership campaign and its account will be maintained .

2) Details of remittance on 19/03/09 to above mentioned a/c at HDFC Bank,Kadavantara Branch ,Kochi
Cash - Rs 20500/-
Cheque- Rs 500/-
Draft Rs 500/-

3) I would like to place on record the services rendered by 72 year old Veteran Lt Cdr PKN Pillai (Secretary - Membership Campign of IESM) for his excellent work in enlisting 58 members from Kochi who were attracted by the good work being done by IESM at Delhi for OROP. Incidentally Lt Cdr Pillai is also the Convener Public Relations of the Kerala Charter of the Navy Foundation.His tel nos and contact particulars are available in the Membership form forwarded..

4) Request acknowledge the receipt.

Regds
R Adm G Kuruvilla VSM (Retd)
(President Navy Foundation, Kerala Chapter)

----------
THE END

CNN-IBN by Vishal Thapar 15 Apr 2009

Ex-servicemen group tells Army to vote for BJP
Vishal Thapar
CNN-IBN

New Delhi: BJP is gaining popularity with Army men. This has become obvious after an influential ex-servicemen's group has now publicly advised the military community to vote for the party.
The advise sounds more like a fatwa.
Former deputy chief of the Army, Lt General Raj Kadyan says, "It is in our interest that we should vote for the BJP."

For the first time ever, India's sizeable and well-regarded military community has been openly asked to vote for a particular political party.

I am looking for the benefit of my community, my 24 lakh ex-servicemen. And their benefits, as the developments are today, lie with the BJP. They are better than the others," Lt General Kadyan states.

The ex-Servicemen's Group Lt General Kadyan heads has campaigned for a better pay and pension deal for the military and its views are thought to find resonance in the Armed Forces. Spurred by the success, it now seeks a bigger political voice for the men in uniform.

This is the first time that discontent in the military is being expressed politically. The target of the anger is the ruling establishment. And the advisory to vote against the Government of the day is unprecedented.

The UPA Government, accused of being insensitive to the interests of soldiers, was demonised but former generals think that the use of political vocabulary to make their case is fair game.

"We have realised that unless we have a political voice, the Government will not understand the value of our vote. The Government must realise that we have a vote too," says Major General (retd) AJB Jaini.

India has long held to the belief that its military is apolitical but democracy is clearly catching up with the men of arms

AFA PALAKKAD Joins IESM

In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

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On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 11:33 PM, CK Sharma wrote:

Dear All

We have been worried about the Air Force Association having been cold to IESM and trying to disassociate itself from us all this while.


Just like the constant trickle from IESL to IESM, here is some EXCELLENT news for all of you!

That should call for a quiet, but definite celebration: we have breached another till-now un-negotiable dam!

Hurray!!

(Wg Cdr CK Sharma, Member IESM Steering Committee)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rajan mechery
Date: 2009/4/11
Subject: Re: orop
To: CK Sharma


sir (Wg Cdr CK Sharma) thanks for ack.

Our executive meeting held on 5 th april passed a resolution that all ex mem will join iesm AND EVERY MEMBER WILL ENROL MINIMUM OF TEN MEMBERS AND THE MAXIMUM MEMBERS WHO HAS TAKEN THE CREDIT WILL BE AWARDED A TOKEN OF TROPHY BY AFA PALAKKAD WE ARE WITH YOU AND WILL BE

REGARDS

SQN LDR M RAJAN (RETD)
CHAPTER PRESIDENT AFA PALAKKAD

[I AM ALREADY A MEMMBER OF IESM KINDLY CFM]
GOD BLESS FOR THIS KURUSHETHRA WAR THE FLAG OF IESM WILL FLY HIGH AS MENTIONED IN GEETHA JUSTICE FOR JUSTICE WE DONT HAVE TO DECLARE OUR ASSET LIKE POLTICIANS OURS IS TRANPARENCY LALU AND HIS POLITICANS CAN EN MASS MILLIONS OF RUPEE AND THE GOVT HAS NO GUTS TO TAKE ACTION A HUMBLE REQ EVERY MEMBER OF ARMED FORCE AND THEIR FAMILIES MUST UTILIES THE VOTING RIGHT INCLUDING EX WE HAVE GOT A TNT WITH US ISRO WILLBE SHOCKED

From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi


Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 6:36 PM



Subject: [CoreG15] Fwd: SOLDIERS MUST VOTE FOR RIGHTS" - PIONEER



An interesting article by Gen Mehta

With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
A-35, Sector 36, Noida 201303.
Mob: +919891279035

-------------

the pioneer


http://www.dailypioneer.com/169643/Soldiers-must-vote-for-rights.html

EDITS | Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Soldiers must vote for rights

Ashok K Mehta



National security, which is rarely discussed in Parliament, has been trivialised at the hustings too — “You sent a Minister with terrorists to Kandahar while we sent commandos to Mumbai.” The debate is in the past tense and in negative.

Traditionally defence issues have arisen following military and operational mishaps and not as part of any institutionalised defence and security strategy formulation. Barring the 1971 military success over Pakistan which eventually became a case of battlefield victory turning into political defeat, the record is one of self-inflicted lapses. The premature acceptance in 1948 of a ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir, the Himalayan blunder of 1962 exacerbated by the no-use of IAF, the strategic folly of returning Haji Pir Pass and Point 13620 in Kargil to Pakistan in 1965, the mindless storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 and even the ill-managed expeditionary force to Sri Lanka in 1987 will all figure in the hall of foul-ups.

Nineteen eighty-eight served as a turning point for externally-sponsored low intensity conflict becoming a proxy war. Nuclear tests on the sub-continent a decade later virtually sanitised the proxy war, encouraging Kandahar, Kargil and culminating in Parakram and Mumbai. No war has been fought since 1971 though border skirmishes and terror-related crises have become routine since the late-1980s. India, which has a high grade world’s fourth largest military, is unable to stop cross-border terrorism.

The British left us with sound political institutions and systems of governance. But strategic culture and military thought were not among them. For 50 of the 60 years after independence it was during Congress rule, unencumbered by coalition imperatives, that strategic mistakes were made. Ingrained in its leadership and psyche is a strong defensive and passive mentality that infected the military and locked it in an intellectual straitjacket. The economic reforms of the 1990s brought down the defence budget to below two per cent of GDP, emaciating defence preparedness. By the time of Kargil, Army Chief Gen VP Malik had to say: “We will fight with what we have.”

The BJP’s performance was a shade better given it arrived with the nuclear bang. Fortunately the after-Kargil report led to a hundred recommendations on defence reform though regrettably, few could be implemented — especially the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff. Although the BJP had a robust defence programme, ‘India Shining’ robbed it of another term to institutionalise them.

The worst hit is internal security. Maoists struck thrice in the last week killing 30 security personnel. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh periodically describes Maoists as the single biggest internal threat facing the country. The insurgency in Assam should have been quelled a decade ago once Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang were launched in the early-1990s, but recent political meddling has undone the gains from Operation All Clear in Bhutan in 2003 that had rooting out ULFA as its objective. Widespread infiltration from Bangladesh, the Congress’s historical vote-bank, has created a grave security threat. This month’s bombing campaign in Assam is ULFA’s signal that it is fit, alive and kicking.

The unabated and unresponded spell of terrorist attacks mapping the country and culminating in Mumbai in the last four years has amazed security experts. The Government’s usual reaction has been: “Sorry. But we’re not soft on terror and will give a fitting reply.” The oldest victim of terror has had no counter-terrorism strategy to protect the people of this country. Mumbai and elections have finally forced the Congress to produce its counter-terror document which is Mission Number One and Pledge to Zero Tolerance to Terror. The accent is defensive and reactive, not punitive or preemptive. The BJP is saying it will send troops to Pakistan to stop terrorism. Only a comprehensive Homeland Security model can remove the deficiencies of internal insecurity.

National security strategy and defence and perspective plans gather dust since 2007. For the third time, the defence budget has dipped below two per cent of the GDP and Rs 17,000 crore on modernisation has returned to the Treasury over five years which has affected defence preparedness. The IAF has slumped from 39 to 32 squadrons, naval ship strength has declined by a third and the Army is deficient in aviation, artillery and counter-terrorism equipment. The military has lost its conventional edge over Pakistan, worst of all, in Jammu & Kashmir, the theatre of decision.

The Sixth Pay Commission was a good opportunity to raise the morale and image of the services, given the shortages in the officer corps. Civilian-bureaucratic stranglehold over adjudicating the status and salary of the fighting forces has led to massive resentment in the ranks. By the Service Chiefs blinking first after a maze of duplicitous committees to redress the anomalies, soldiers have lost to civilian and para-military counterparts — Lt Generals in higher administrative grade, Lt Colonels in pay and grade bands and sepoys in enhanced service weightage for pension. The Government has reasserted civilian bureaucratic control over the armed forces.

The one rank one pension issue has demonstrated through the ex-servicemen’s movement that the most obedient and disciplined force can also lose its cool. The Sixth Pay Commission has created four classes within a class: Pre-1966, post-1966 to December 2005, post-January 2006 to September 2008, and post- October 2008. Further, Major Generals are in court as their pension is less than Brigadiers, altogether leading to confusion worst confounded.

The ex-servicemen are likely to vote BJP, which has promised not only one rank, one pay but also income tax exempt pay for servicemen. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who gave India under a Congress Government its first military victory in 1,000 years, was not conferred a Bharat Ratna. A country that does not care for the izzat and iqbal (respect and welfare) of the armed forces is harming their apolitical, secular and disciplined disposition.

In the military mind and public perception the BJP stands for making India militarily strong though the bigger challenge for a future Government is political will to employ usable military forces to deter and punish cross-border terrorism. National security, especially internal security must be depoliticised and governed by a national political consensus. Defence planning and strategic security culture must be taught to those who represent the people in Parliament. As the political class of India and the people remember its soldiers only during Kargil, Mumbai and tsunami, soldiers and ex-servicemen must vote for their rights.

---------

From: Navdeep Singh

To: ;

Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 7:55 AM

Subject: Useful info

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Useful and must-have information for all defence personnel : Comparative tables of military and civil service appointments in States and the Centre

The status, appointment and pay comparison between various services such as the IAS, IPS, IRS, IDAS etc against the backdrop of the military is pretty confusing to most.

I have prepared a table / chart / ready-reckoner for the same which each and every officer of the defence services should have access to. This table has taken into account the scales laid down after the 6th Central Pay Commission. A separate table of status comparison in accordance with the Warrant of Precedence is also reproduced under the tabulation. Anyone who is unable to download the same may email me.

Please fee free to distribute amongst the military community.


Click here to view and download the comparative status, appointment and pay table between various civil services and the military

A print-out of the above document (with footnotes) on legal size paper is highly recommended for all.

Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:19 AM 0 comments

Labels: Grade Pay, Pay Commission, Policy and Benefits, Status, Warrant of Precedence

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Something which we should definitely debate : Disarming Charm by Karan Thapar

The following appears in the Hindustan Times, an advisory note by Karan Thapar. Before moving to Mr Thapar's write-up, I would like to say something. While I do not want to be judgemental or take sides, I think he is right to an extent, but we need to debate this. I sincerely believe that rather than seeking ‘special’ indulgence, we should on the contrary seek ‘equal treatment’. We should instead ask the political executive to be treated equally with All India Services as far as status, pay and career progression is concerned. Time is witness to this reality that rather than respect for an institution, too many concessions without a proper logical reasoning breed scorn and jealousy. Already, to deny the services their well deserved dues, nitpickers have been harping on the free rations and subsidised liquor without fully realising the concept behind these, and if we go ahead for full Income Tax exemption too, the effect on the public psyche, in my humble opinion, could in fact be counter-productive. IT exemption while posted in a properly defined criterion such as CI / CT Ops, wars and war like operations would be a much better idea than across the board exemption. But this is my personal opinion of course and readers may have a different take on this.

Disarming Charm

Karan Thapar

... edited ...



Saturday, April 11, 2009

'Our' blog completes one year today

It’s been a year since this blog came into existence. I’m sure readers would have enriched their knowledge by interacting with each other.

A friend who is a regular visitor wanted to know which posts have had the maximum hits, which generated the most comments and so on. I found the data interesting and do not mind sharing it with you. So here are some vital statistics :

Total Blog Posts

185

Maximum number of hits in one single day

30,000

First Post

6th CPC further cements the legacy of degradation of military ranks

Posts with the maximum comments

The make believe world of inferiority : Courtesy the 6th CPC
And
More on the "SAG is equivalent to Maj Gen" misnomer

Rejoinders and discussion thereon

Oh What have you done Mr Dutta ! (Saikat Dutta of the Outlook)
And
Abhinav replies and amplifies (Abhinav Kumar, IPS)

Most viewed ‘guest post’

God Save us from ourselves (BeeCee)

Most circulated blog post

Let’s stop cribbing and concentrate on ‘homework’ : A wake up call

Thanks for all the support.

Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 8:54 AM 19 comments


-----------


From: S Prakash prakash.g7@gmail.com

Subject: FW: VEDAS-SAY WAKE UP

To: EDITED

If not now..... When?
Subject: When and How WE shall Wake up in the Heaven of Freedom

Vedic Prayer to the formless and ineffable Universal God “Give us power not to become insensitive and silent spectators to social, moral and political evils and bestow us necessary wrath to fight these evils” (Rig Veda 1-97-8)

Dear vigilant sovereign citizens of India,


Subject: Six decades of Independence and “We” the sovereign people of India are yet to wake up in the Heaven of Freedom envisaged by R.N. Tagore and self rule (swaraj- our birth right) of B.G. Tilak.

The evil effects of six decades of Indian brand of Socialism, pseudo Secularism, ever developing pockets of feudal petty empires and purchased/fixed/caste vote bank policy are largely as below.

1. India is now perceived as a highly corrupt state and a country of contrasts in various Human Development Indices. All its cities are becoming urban nightmare.


2. It has become a soft state leading to ISI’s continuous effort to destabilize India. Even our own central government security has warned about this and against the huge influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Naxal, ULFA and many other kind of threats.(TOI 9-06-08). “To be or not to be” is now the main question before political parties and their confused leaders. The welfare of the country is not on their agenda.


3. The terms like accountability, transparency and welfare have lost any significance in our democracy, political and bureaucratic culture and systems. The guiding principle is to make hay while the Sun shines.



4. It has led to over centralization and has ruined our local governments. All the urban Municipal Committees/Corporation/Councils have become weak and ineffective. The “dog in manger” policy is clearly visible amongst political leaders and self serving I.A.S bureaucrats. They neither do any thing nor allow the sovereign People of India to do any thing in their civic, social and community welfare activities. The sovereign citizens are fed on false promises to gain time.


5. Instead of destroying old feudal culture, the government has further encouraged mai baap culture and made people insensitive and silent spectators to social, moral and political evils.


6. The strong steel frame of administration of early 1950’s is now fragile, highly rusted, outdated, non functional, insensitive and non transparent. It has encouraged our Armed Forces retired Jawana/Officers to go on relay hunger strike and return their most preccious war medals to the President of India. The serving officers are feeling down graded by IAS bureaucracy.



7. Our systems have have encouraged pedigree rule which is fast spreading in the centre and states of India.

8. Politics the noblest Endeavour has now become dirty and mafia politics. The industry and spiritual leaders have totally forgotten their social and national duties and are making no effort to make politics as a noble Endeavour.

9. It has killed healthy community life in India and has become cause of rise of fanaticism and fundamentalism in religions/sects/cults.

Many other social, moral and physical environmental ills are also attributed to India brand of socialism, pseudo secularism like political bribe from the public funds, anti national minority appeasement policy etc.


Time has come to bury this kind of socialism before Indian states break into independent states like erstwhile USSR whose model we adopted as Nehruvian Socialism. By burying this all other evils will start disappearing or at least start getting diluted.

A large number of vigilant groups in India have become aware to bring social, political and social and administrative reforms in India at the earliest. They are providing common platform on Freedom, swaraj and world best available policies. Their Freedom Teams are having members who respect views of others. They know diversity of ‘thought is a reality’ and respect this natural diversity. However, this natural right of Free Will needs to be balanced for the prosperity and strength of the country.

Many of these groups are requesting the determined millions of soldiers to join this war of liberating India and even become Leaders in this sacred peaceful democratic war of liberation. They are all aiming at politics for secure, prosperous and fully democratic India.

One such group is Freedom Team of India. Please study carefully their objectives, strategies and dedicated activities on the following website and IF fully convinced join as Leaders and even take the commands. Kindly feel free to supplement their aims, objectives and strategies through open discussion/suggestions etc. http://www.freedom.sabhlokcity.com/

Kindly forward this e-mail to millions of others who are convinced for early attainment of swaraj and Freedom in India. The existing six decades of Independence is only a prelude to self governance and freedom. Unfortunately we are just struck with Independence i.e. change of white rulers to self serving brown rulers who have found certain loopholes in our feudal culture, traditions and insensitivity and are keen to become hereditary monarchs of India/some states/zones by freely encouraging undemocratic pedigree rule in India through their purchase/fixed vote banks finding about 40 crores of rich/middle/intellectual class as not taking interest in the political activities of the country. There is an urgent need to wake up before it is too late. These 40 crores can make politics once again as the noblest Endeavour.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok


With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
A-35, Sector 36,
Noida 201303.
Mob: +919891279035


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From: Maj Gen Pushpendra Singh genpushpendra@gmail.com

Subject: Fwd a write up

To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in , ; TRUNCATED

Date: Monday, 13 April, 2009, 6:59 PM

Dear all,

am forwarding a write up which had been submitted to a Hindi daily for translation and publication. they have failed to respond and probably have decided not to publish it. i shall be deeply grateful if you could kindly upload onto your email nets/blogs and give it some AIR.



with warm regards

veteran Pushpendra Singh

Maj Gen Pushpendra Singh
596 Sector 6, Panchkula HYA; India - 134109

-----------

FAUJIYON KE SAATH KISI KA BHI NAHIN HAATH

- Pushpendra Singh



A very different kind of protest is underway at Delhi’s Jantar Manatr. It is dignified and disciplined, like the faujis sitting in protest. But, accustomed to violent, disruptive protests, this has got hardly any mention in the media. In fact Babustan has made it a point to smother all coverage of the protest. About 15,000 medals of ex-servicemen of all three services – Generals to Jawans – have been collected and returned to Supreme Commander, Pratibha Patil.



What do medals signify? To civilians these are trinkets which make ‘stupid’ faujis happy. But to a fauji, each medal is a reminder of courage, comradeship and sacrifice: the first time under fire - fear overcome and manhood gained; friends attaining veergati; some wounded or disabled. Hardship and separation from loved ones – perhaps, serving in Himalayas, protecting the very people who now deny him his dues, he became a father and yearned for the day he could proceed on leave to cuddle his newborn.



When Mrs Shikha Bhardwaj, mother of Shaheed Capt Umang Bhardwaj, packed his Shaurya Chakra, she renounced the most precious nishani of her ‘jigrey ka tukra’. Even the shaheed hero’s father, Col Bhardwaj returned his own Sena Medal to Pratibha Patil. Every ‘ma and mai-ka-lal’ will feel Shikha’s heart- wrench over her tyaag. Only, Pratibha Patil, was made to miss the occasion – even her Military Advisor was absent. Such is the power and heartlessness of Babustan! After imposition of the election model code, when she met IESM delegation, she told them she had not been informed!



What do faujis want; are they not paid enough? They seek justice and equity. Their demand is for one defined pension for every rank from Rifleman to General applicable to all retirees, irrespective of retirement dates (OROP). Due to steep promotion pyramid faujis face extreme supercession, based mainly on performance. Hence, denial of OROP affects them acutely. Consider some Army examples: there is only one Subedar-Major for 60,000 sepoys. Of 1100 officers commissioned every year, just three reach HAG-equivalent grade. In IAS/IPS there are more HAG posts than the intake level! Performance-based promotions are as foreign to these services as Burkina-Faso. Out of 11 lac armymen, only eight are eligible for OROP. But, over 99% of IAS/IPS officers, 100% judges and MPs have entitled themselves to it.



Before Defence Forces were brought under ambit of the Central Pay Commissions (CPC), every rank had a specified pension. Thereafter, while subjected to the CPCs’ ‘awards’, they were denied representation in all of them - despite constituting 40% of all Central Employees. This is the key to Babustan’s steady erosion of Defence Forces’ emoluments and status. 6CPC took the cake. Not only were they denied representation, but were not even allowed to make even a presentation to the Commission! What is the result? ‘Anomalies’ from as far back as the 4CPC are still pending for 23 years! Atleast three are in Supreme Court .No wonder faujis term them ‘peeth mein chhura’! As cases drag on most faujis would never see benefits in their lifetimes; when these back-stabs are settled. That’s how Babustan denies justice to those who safeguard their air-conditioned lifestyles.



Babustan’s MoD has consistently played a pernicious role in heaping injustice on the faujis. 4PC (1986), for the first time unshackled the Forces from the steep hierarchical pyramid by adopting a running pay band and superimposing rank pay. However, sly manipulation by Defence Finance ensured that the basic pay was depressed by the amount of rank pay! What the CPC gave, diabolic accounting denied. Major Dhanapalan’s contention was upheld by Supreme Court. Quarter century later, far from conceding their mistake, MoD is still fighting other veterans in the Supreme Court.



5PC (1996) included Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) of Government doctors in their pensions. Subsequently, GOI reversed this for earlier retirees, forcing them to court. Having lost in High Courts, GOI appealed to Supreme Court. Later, better sense dawned on all other Departments, who withdrew their cases. But MoD still persists in singling out military doctors - the only group being discriminated against.



The 6PC fiasco revealed the purposeful machinations of MoD-bureaucrats to depress defence forces’ status, yet again. When the Chiefs protested, newspapers, once renowned for fearlessly frank journalism, carried explicit threats. Thankfully, many TV channels and intrepid journals defied MoD and exposed Babustan’s degradation of two crucial ranks. This had immediate ramifications in security-sensitive Kashmir at police-chiefs’/ Corps Commanders’ levels. Clearly, defence of the Republic is inconsequential; only ‘putting-the-Army-down’ counts.



More than 80% faujis retire before they turn 40 and nearly all before 60! However, while previous CPCs removed pension weightages which had partially compensated for early retirements, 6CPC further aggravated the disparities between pensioners. Today, a sepoy who retired in Dec 2005 gets 82% less pension than one who retired in Jan 2006! Even a pre-2006 Havildar gets 37% less pension than a sepoy - two ranks his junior. Surely, Parliament is there to safeguard fauji interests, as it is reflects the citizens’ solid support of their fauji bhaiyyas. Yes, the KP Singh-Deo Committee appointed back in 1980s first enunciated the term OROP and recommended it. But Babustan has been able to consistently ensure that it is not implemented.



DS Nakra, a retired FADS, approached the Courts when he in turn faced pension inequity. Supreme Court in its landmark judgment of 17-12-1982 upheld the principle of OROP. Revealing extracts from the judgment are quoted below:



"Pension is ….. but a payment for past services rendered”. The hon’ble court further stated, “Payment of Pension is a statutory liability incurred and must be provided in the Budget. The argument (regarding limitations of resources) is an argument of desperation ...without merit and must be rejected as untenable (Para 45)…”



On 9-9-08, delivering judgment in a 5CPC-related case, whereby veteran Maj-Gens’ pensions were equalled to that of Brigs (junior rank) retiring prospectively, the Supreme Court quoted extensively from the Nakra case and ruled that different dates of retirement cannot be a basis for denial of equity in pensions - a senior rank-holder must get higher pension than his junior. At first 6CPC denied this to Brigs, Maj-Gens and Lt-Gens, all of whose pensions were made equal to Cols (junior to all) retiring prospectively. Only when faced with contempt notice, Babustan gave a nominal increase to these ranks. But still denies them OROP!



In a TV debate anchored by Karan Thapar in Feb ‘09, it was brought out that OROP was part of the Congress 2004 election manifesto. In light of the above judgements, Manoj Tewari had to defend the indefensible: INC’s denial of OROP during 41/2 years in office. He mouthed the party line, ‘I empathise with these people (sic), but due to legal, financial and administrative reasons, OROP cannot be given.’ One month later, now seeking election from Punjab, he issued a statement that, should he return as MP, he would ensure that OROP is granted to Defence Personnel!



If the citizens, Parliament and Supreme Court all favour granting OROP, what stops the Govt from acceding to this demand? Obviously, it is the Haath of Babustan. At a time when perilous security storms are gathering around us, the Defence Forces are forced to fight the might of Babustan for justice and honour. All patriotic citizens, who value the nation’s integrity, must vote for those who will support its fauji saviours and ensure that ‘farebi jhhootas’ are given the ‘joota’ in the polls.

--------------

From: Charan Singh charansingh31@yahoo.co.in

Subject: Article in DAWN of 13/04/09

To: "REPORT MY SIGNAL(CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in

Date: Monday, 13 April, 2009, 6:45 PM


Dear CSK,

There is an interesting article in DAWN OF 13/03/09 ' CONGRESS CREATED PAKISTAN & PAKISTAN CREATED BJP'

charan

(Brig Charan Singh, Una, Himachal)

..........

DAWN.COM

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/home/



Congress created Pakistan, Pakistan created the BJP?

By Jawed Naqvi
Monday, 13 Apr, 2009 | 01:58 PM PST



A potentially sinister event has prompted this column. It is my sense from a few visits to Pakistan beginning with 1997 that a large number of Pakistanis prefer the rightwing religious revivalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to rule India. On the other hand, they are wary of the Congress. This tendency, I gather, is more pronounced within the Pakistani bureaucracy and the military. I know of Pakistani diplomats and officials who would be privately praying for the BJP to win the April-May elections in India.

To some extent this is true also of some of the journalists I have interacted with from different parts of Pakistan. They include those that claim to work for peace and dialogue between the two countries. The BJP has sold them the myth that it can alone solve the Kashmir dispute, not the Congress or anyone else.

There is a counter grouse among Pakistanis. Many of them feel, and they are probably spot on, that the bulk of the Indian establishment, including that media which works with the establishment, has a subcutaneous liking for the military in preference to civilian governments in Islamabad, and, in recent days, for General Pervez Musharraf in particular. This was reflected in some ways in the standing ovation the former army chief received recently at the end of a televised interaction he had with the movers and shakers of Delhi. And who was the one person Musharraf wanted to meet in Delhi but couldn’t? It was none other than his favourite BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee.

By a similar logic, the rule governing the more perverse cross-border affinities should apply to the Taliban and others sharing its mindset. All their acts of terrorism and zealotry within Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond serve to consolidate rightwing religious politics in India with a more hardened hard-line state to boot. Erosion of democracy and liberal ideals inherited from Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru is a major consequence. The irony is that nothing suits the BJP more than the Taliban-type religious bigotry. It works brilliantly as a counterpoint for its communal mobilisation.

It is ironical too that the most liberal and secular leaders that India ever produced – Messrs Gandhi and Nehru – were responsible in their on ways for eventually edging out an equally secular and liberal Mohammed Ali Jinnah from the Congress. (He is the only of the three who had a love marriage, with a woman not of his religion!) For better or worse, a piqued Jinnah helped create a separate state for a large number of India’s Muslims.

In this sense a mathematical equation has been doing the rounds in my head for some time now: The Congress created Pakistan, and Pakistan, by doing everything to undermine secularism in India, created the BJP.

Let me flesh this out in broad strokes. Firstly, the affinity between the Pakistani establishment and the BJP is not recent. It is grounded in a common ideological corner they shared during the Cold War. Before the advent of Manmohan Singh as a Congress factotum 1991, the BJP was seen as India’s main pro-America party. So were the military establishment and its religious accoutrements in Pakistan. Moreover, having never got to govern India until 1996, when it formed a 13-day government under Atal Behari Vajpayee, the BJP was not directly involved in the bruising wars with Pakistan. The 1971 encounter, which won for Indira Gandhi the sobriquet of Goddess Durga from Vajpayee, left a deep wound in the Pakistani psyche, more so the military and its religious companions.

When Mrs Gandhi was assassinated in 1984, Indian supporters of Pakistan’s Jamaat-i-Islami exulted how all three leaders they held responsible for the dismemberment of the Islamic state of Pakistan – Mujibur Rehman, Zulfikar

Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi – had died violent deaths. There was silence from the group though when the Jamaat’s main benefactor Gen Zia ul Haq too perished in similar circumstances. The Cold War had ensured that Indira Gandhi, the closest ally Moscow ever had in India, never visited Pakistan.

Her son was the first prime minister since Nehru to go across the border.

In this vein an ideological tit for tat occurred when Mrs Gandhi decorated Pakhtoon leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan –intensely disliked by the Pakistani military– with the highest civilian award of Bharat Ratna. Zia got his chance for a comeuppance when India briefly had a pro-American government, in which the BJP was a key partner. He decorated then prime minister Morarji Desai with Nishan-i-Pakistan although another reason cited for this was Desai’s steadfast refusal to be involved, as opposed to Mrs Gandhi’s petitioning of Zia, to save Bhutto.

At least two factors could be cited to explain the apparent soft corner the Pakistani establishment – initially the rightwing, now the centre-right as well – harbours for the BJP. One is rooted in a myth the other in religion.

The myth is that only the BJP and none else can solve the intractable issues with Pakistan, including the Kashmir dispute. To keep the story warm the BJP continues to issue periodic warnings to Congress governments and others against a ‘sell-out’ on Kashmir. It did so just before the Mumbai attacks. The reality is different. The toughest resolution to date on Kashmir was passed by parliament during Congress stewardship under the late Narasimha Rao.

Religion is a different kettle of fish. For a long time the BJP had peddled its idea of Hindutva as an aspect of cultural nationalism, distinct from religion. But in practice the idea and its party both worked precisely for religious consolidation, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, all. It is commonplace that the BJP’s idea of India gives heart to the religious caboodle in Pakistan, and in turn fortifies what they would like their idea of Pakistan to be.

Columnist A.G. Noorani last week quoted an encounter Nehru had in 1963 with young and senior foreign ministry officers. His foreign secretary Y.D. Gundevia reminded Nehru that the communists had won power in Kerala in 1957 and asked: ‘But what happens to the services if the communists are elected to power, tomorrow, at the Centre, here in New Delhi?’

Gundevia records: ‘He pondered over my long drawn out question and then said, looking across the room, ‘Communists, communists, communists, why are all of you so obsessed with communists and communism? What is it that communists can do that we cannot do and have not done for the country? Why do you imagine the communists will ever be voted into power at the Centre?’ There was a long pause after this and then he said, spelling it out slowly and very deliberately, ‘The danger to India, mark you, is not communism, it is Hindu right-wing communalism.’

If the Pakistani establishment disliked Nehru, the BJP and its Hindutva partners hate him. Chances are that Nehru’s warning will not go unheeded in the coming elections. But the BJP, meanwhile, has been surreptitiously working at another attempt to convert the secular state into an obscurantist possibly also a theocratic one. A little known letter written by the BJP’s prime ministerial hopeful Lal Kishan Advani to the clergy of different religions was published in The Telegraph of Calcutta on Sunday.

The letter says: ‘It will be my endeavour to seek on a regular basis the guidance of spiritual leaders of all denominations on major challenges and issues facing the nation. For this, we shall evolve a suitable consultative mechanism.’ Iran’s higher interior ministry is known as the Ministry of Islamic Guidance.

Advani’s letter, according to The Telegraph, follows a charter of demands from the Dharma Raksha Manch, a body supported by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that claims India’s identity cannot be religion-neutral and has demanded the country be declared a ‘spiritual nation.’

‘The Manch has representatives from all major religions but draws its sustenance from the larger RSS fold. Many of its demands –on conversions and the protection of the cow, the Ganga and the Ram Setu– find mention in Advani’s letter,’ according to the report. If he succeeds, neither the Taliban nor the Pakistan military has to try to unravel Nehru’s India. They have the BJP to do the job even better.

jawednaqvi@gmail.com

---------------
THE END

Meeting with INLD President....15 Apr 2009

"REPORT MY SIGNAL"

MISSION
JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES

15 Apr 09.
To,
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An important email just received by me from Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM, is reproduced below.
Quote.
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: MEETING WITH INLD PRESIDENT
To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in ; TRUNCATED
Date: Wednesday, 15 April, 2009, 11:39 AM
Dear Brig Kamboj,
The BJP has already made pre-poll alliance with certain parties that include Akali Dal, Indian National Lok Dal and Lok Dal (Ajit Singh). They are not contesting against each other. Therefore, we must support these allies wherever we can and the advisory on this can/should be disseminated ASAP.
Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A, Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262, 91+ 9811226676
Unquote.
Veterans may also read the trailing emails to the above email, which are reproduced below.
These emails give further clarification on the subject.
All ESM organisations and ESMs receiving this email are requested to give widest possible publicity, to the contents of this email, at the earliest, through emails on your forward net, by telephone and by word of mouth to neighbours and friends.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-----------
From: pravesh renjen prenjen@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: MEETING WITH INLD PRESIDENT
To: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in ; "Lt Gen Raj Kadyan" rajkadyan@yahoo.com ; TRUNCATED,

Date: Wednesday, 15 April, 2009, 8:53 AM
There is no splitting of votes between the NDA allies. In any constituency, only one candidate from one of the constituents is contesting. And, it is in our interest that the NDA manifesto also reflects all that BJP's does. We need to persuade the constituents (no doubt BJP will also do it on their own) that they agree to inclusion of our concerns in NDA manifesto (coming out in a day or so). In fact, we had insisted on this with the BJP during our discussion with them. We must get a similar commitment from all NDA constituents. And, therefore, our attempt to persuade them all.

Recommend again that the advisory and my mail is issued urgently.


Maj Gen (Retd) PK Renjen, AVSM
Ph: 9810044542
------------


From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: MEETING WITH INLD PRESIDENT
To: TRUNCATED
Cc: "Brig CS Kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in ; TRUNCATED,
Date: Tuesday, 14 April, 2009, 10:44 PM
Yes, I will.
This is already implied in our advisory. In case of NDA, wherever an Ally candidate (INLD, Akali Dal and Indian Lok Dal) is contesting there will be no BJP candidate. For example in the 10 seats of Haryana, BJP is contesting on five and the INLD on the remaining five. There is no contradiction.

Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM,
Chairman IESM,
------------

Maha Rally 12 April as seen by Brig CS Kamboj

To,
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM, giving IESM SITREP for 12 Apr 09, is appended below.

The photographs taken at Jantar today will follow soon, in batches. The photos will give you a good idea of the representation from large number of states.

Another highlight of the function was a skit presented by the team of veterans from Lucknow - the skit was very well received by the audience and the media.

We will try and send you the transcript of the script. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Broadly the skit was that one ESM dressed up as Rawan; some of the ten faces were Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, RM, FM and others. Another ESM was dressed up as Ram. Ram asked questions related to the problems of the ESM, Rawan gave funny answer depicting what the present Government did to ESM. At the end Rawan admitted that when he goes to heaven he will have to answer to the Almighty. Therefore, Rawan decides to give justice to ESM.

Media presence was much less compared to our last rally; reason is obvious - the election fever gets higher priority compared to the ESM rally.

I may also add here that while the ESM from distance stations came in large numbers - in spite of repeated humble requests the turn out of ESM from NCR could be counted on finger tips; I am sure you could have done better SIRS.

Some of the ESM were looking around for the President of IESL. When they came to know that President IESL had not come for the rally - the ESM became very angry and used abusive language as they felt cheated by President IESL.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-------------
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: ESM fast sitrep 12 Apr evening
To: "REPORT MY SIGNAL(CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in ; TRUNCATED
Date: Sunday, 12 April, 2009, 10:11 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Maha Rally 12 April 09
The rally was held as scheduled. There was good attendance, estimated at nearly 8,000 ESM including families. The heterogeneous mix was a notable feature. States represented were – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP, Uttarkhand, HP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan. ESM belonging to different organisations had assembled. At the end, approximately 2000 medals were deposited with the President.
Highlight of the day was the issue of voting advisory that the ESM had been persistently demanding. In this connection following points were made:
1. Voting is a constitutional right and everyone is free to vote as per his/her choice.
2. Vote is an important weapon in our armoury and must be used with great care and thought.
3. We must follow the principle, ‘we will help those who help us’.
4. OROP being 25 years old problem, national political parties that held power during the period were recalled – Some 11 years Congress, 5 years UPA with Congress as a dominant party and some six years NDA with the BJP as the dominant party. Neither of them sanctioned OROP.
5. Current situation is that the Congress has rejected the OROP in Dec 2008 and have made no mention of it in their new election manifesto. On the contrary, the BJP has made a specific mention in their manifesto to say that the principle of one rank one pension will be implemented. In addition their Prime Ministerial candidate Mr LK Advani visited Jantar Mantar and made a categorical commitment to implement OROP. No one from the Congress has established any contact.
6. Based on the above analysis, it seems logical that keeping in the mind the interests of the over two million Ex Servicemen vis-à-vis OROP, BJP is a better choice.
7. It was reiterated that this is only an advisory and everyone has a right vote as he/she deems fit.

The message was generally well received.
Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

Mail from members ..11 April 2009

From: gensuri gensuri@airtelmail.in
Subject: Fw: SC Case pre 96 Maj Gens/AVMs/RADMs pensions
To: "k2" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Friday, 10 April, 2009, 4:56 PM

Hi,
Went to the SC yesterday along to hear the contempt case submitted by Nidesh Gupta for non complaince of the SC orders re our pensions.
Altamas Kabir was the senior judge of the bench , he was fully aware of the case & was furious with the COAS & Def Secy for not implementing the SC orders.
He let the Def lawyers have it as they gave no reasons for non execution. He first issued notice to the COAS & Def Secy to come personally to the court & explain as to why the the SC orders had not been executed & why a contempt case should not be lauched against them . On pleading by the Def lawyers he excused their personal appearance.
On our pressurizing he fixed the next hearing on 4th May.
This news was picked up by all TV channels & high lighted in their 1200hrs onwards.
Hope the Govt now takes some action .
Please inform all concernd.
Rgds
Satish
(Maj Gen SC Suri, New Delhi)
-----------
From: J Thomas himlynx@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: Greeting
To: "Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)" hrwntsingh@yahoo.co.in , indianveterans@yahoogroups.com, "REPORT MY SIGNAL (CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Cc: rumbhdafalia2005@yahoo.ca
Date: Friday, 10 April, 2009, 3:20 AM
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: ganpat patel
To: himlynx@yahoo.com
Cc: rumbhdafalia2005@yahoo.ca
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2009 3:50:22 PM
Subject: Greeting
I wish good luck to veteran Harwant Singh in the election as he is independent candidate from Chandigarh Punjab.
Ganpatbhai C. Patel
Ex-Corporal ( retired )
Indian Air Force
( now living in canada )

---------
From: ss sohi sadhusohi@gmail.com
Subject: Appeal to join IESM MAHA Rally at Delhi on 12 Apr
To:TRUNCATED
Date: Wednesday, 8 April, 2009, 12:33 PM
Appeal to Join IESM Maha Rally at Jantar Mantar New Delhi on 12 Apr 09
Dear Sirs, & Friends,
1. Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement is holding a national level ESM Rally in
protest for One Rank One Pension (OROP) & Injustices being caused by the
Govt/ IAS cadre, on ESM feternity. The Protest will start at Jantar Mantar at
11am to 2.30pm.
2.All ESM Organisations & ESM League are joining from all over Pb & India,
to make it a big success. All ESM Candidates for LS will also be joining Rally.
3. Major Policy matters & Voting Policy will be declared there, to safe
guard/ protect ESM value & dignity and to press on our 28 demands.
4. Pb ESM from far away places are reaching Delhi by Night trains and buses
are being arranged at Ludhiana, Fatehgarh, Patiala, Garhshankar & Kharar.
5. Mohali/ Tricity two buses shall be leaving for Delhi at 5am on 12 Apr from
Amb Sahib Gurudwara. Please book your seats free of cost immediately and
also coop, support & donate bravely for the ESM community's noble cause. So
that we can work for the better Nation building & remove corrupt system. So far we have been fighting terrorists & Talibans, but got no social & economic value of our sacrifices.

TO PRESS & all ESM
By Lt Col SS Sohi
Coord IESM Pb. 9815107744.
------------
From: Alpha Assessment & Development Centre
Date: 2009/4/8
Subject: Support for IESM
To: iesm2008@gmail.com
My Dear Maj Gen Satbir Singh,
It was a great pleasure to meet you after a long time.
You will be remembered forever for your services you are giving for the welfare to Ex Servicemen and Defence Services.
It is my duty to support you in your efforts. I will be happy to organise the support for our cost at Mumbai.
With warm regards
Brigadier (Retd) Ratan Singh
-----------
From: raj kadyan rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: Please Watch
To: TRUNCATED
Date: Wednesday, 8 April, 2009, 12:11 PM
Best regards,

Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM,
Chairman IESM,
262, Sector-17A,
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262, 91+ 9811226676
........
If a 15 years old can picturize these feelings why a nation of one Billion is still in a slumber!! & chasing spineless politicians & Babus
A powerful & moving message!

Subject: Please Watch

Please watch.
Very well done.

This video was made by a 15-year-old girl. It is the hottest thing on the Internet and on Fox News today.

Lizzie Palmer, who put together this YouTube program, is 15 years old. There have been more than 3,000,000 hits as of this morning. In case you missed it, here it is.

Watch all of it.......and pass it on!!

http://www.youtube. com/v/ervaMPt4Ha 0&autoplay=1



------------
THE END

Tentative Speakers for 12 Apr Rally ...

Jhajjar Hon Lt Kameshwar PandeyConvenor* Jhajjar
Kerala W/o PR Balathilken
M’dergarh, H’naW/o OP YadavConvenor* M’dergarh
Farqabd, UP Sub DS YadavConvenor* M’dergarh
Behrod, Raj Hon Capt RamnathConvenor* Behrod
GG, Har Mrs Shiksha Bhardwaj Indep; mother of Umang
Punjab Cpl KS Kumbra
Bawal, Har Capt Budh RamConvenor* Bawal
Lucknow, UP Petty O GK Awasthy
GG, Har Maj Jakhar
Hissar, Har Sub Hari SinghConvenor* Hissar
Alwar, Rajasthan Brig KartarHead IESL Rajasthan
Kharar ,Punjab Sub Maj Nirvair SinghVP IESL Mohali
Jhajjar, Haryna Capt Rathee
Thanjavur, TN Hav Santhanan
Surheti, H’yna Capt Om Prakash
Lucknow, UP Hav RP SrivastavaConvenor UP, IESM
Bhiwani, Har Hony Capt Hoshiar SinghConvenor* Bhiwani
Lucknow, UP Hav Prabhu Nath
NCRMaj (Mrs) Tomar Professional Party of India
Faridabad,Har Nk Mukesh Joshi
GG, Har W’o SM Dhaiya
Jhunjunu, Raj Sub Khyali Ram DangiConvenor* Jhunjunu

Bathinda,Punjab Hon Capt BS Bhatti Prez Ex Servicemen Assn Punjab


TN Col TN Raman Convenor IESM TN
UP Col TP Tyagi,VrC Prez Rashtriya Sainik Sanstha
K’natka Col Rajan Member core group

Beware of False Rumours Regarding our Maha Rally on 12 Apr

Beware of False Rumours Regarding our Maha Rally
at Jantar Mantar New Delhi
on 12 Apr 09 at 11 AM


Dear Friends,

1. Some unscrupulous individuals are spreading rumours of cancellation of our Mahar Rally on 12 Apr 2009 at Jantar – Mantar a 11 AM.
2. All ESM are hereby informed to beware of such rumours and also inform everyone accordingly. Our Rally will be held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 12 Apr 09 at 11 AM. All ESM across country are requested to attend and motivate others to do so. This is an event to show case our strength and unity to get Justice for Defence Personnel. Kindly attend in large numbers.
With regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement

Ex Servicemen assaulted by DMK Councillors Chennai 09 Apr 2009

CHENNAI:

Police are searching for a group of men, including a couple of councillors belonging to the DMK, for assaulting four senior citizens in Madambakkam on Thursday. Three former defence officers and wife of one of the officers were injured.

The injured complained that the incident was a result of animosity nurtured by a section of politicians for protests staged by residents against the location of the proposed common sewage treatment plant in Madambakkam for an underground drainage project for Madambakkam, Sembakkam and Chitlapakkam Town Panchayats.

Selaiyur police said they had registered a FIR following a complaint from Admiral (retired) Srinivasan (63), who said a section of residents, including Brigadier (retired) Mohan Thomas (62), Colonel (retired) Sundar (58) and his wife Usha Sundar (52), went to the proposed site on an invitation from TNPCB officials.

R. Kumar, Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Admiral Srinivasan said, had come to the site on Wednesday following complaints from residents that once completed, the facility would irreversibly damage the fragile environment including water bodies around it. The residents’ charge was that the facility had not got the necessary clearance from TNPCB. Even as the residents were trying to point out their concerns to the TNPCB engineer, councillors and his supporters showered abuses on them.

When the residents tried to take the engineer to water bodies nearby, the councillors and their supporters threatened the residents and suddenly, a group of men picked up coconut fronds and wooden clubs and attacked them. The FIR has been registered against L.S.S.Mohan, councillor of Madambakkam town panchayat, (who is husband of Malliga, chairperson of the local body), councillor M.Samson and Executive Officer D.Gunasekaran, police added.
Fir against DMK councillors in assault case

Comment: All ESM and ESM Organisations should unitedly fight the corrupt Politicians and Councillors who really are goondas terrorising the innocent citizens. All Politicians are having potful of black money and indulge in benami transactions, fraud, cheating, smuggling, illegal buying and selling of real estate for huge profits in connivance of the Politicians and Police. There is immediate need for Police reforms if common citizens need security from Political hoodlums. War on terror must be fought from all angles.
Posted by SIGNAL on Friday, April 10, 2009 Links to this post
Labels: Assault, Chennai, Corrupt Politicians, Councillor- Goondas, Police Reforms, VIP Terror, War on Terror

Contempt Notice to Army Chief and Defence Secretary by Supreme Court 09 Apr 2009

The Supreme Court has issued a contempt
notice to the Army chief and Defence
Secretary for not implementing the court's
order on the 5th pay commission. This comes
after some retired army officers approached the
Court over discrepancies in pensions.

The apex court in October 2008 had said that
there should not be any discrimination between
pre-1996, post-1996 defence pensioners. However, the Defence
Ministry did not implement the order.

And so we ask, are the armed forces being given a raw deal
over the Pay Commission?

Tonight, on Verdict, join Vikram Chandra, for a discussion
on 'ONE RANK, ONE PAY' at 8:30 pm (IST) on NDTV 24x7.



What's your take?
Q. Are the armed forces being given a raw deal over the Pay Commission?

Yes 84.62%
No 12.82%
Can't say 2.56%
Total Votes: 78

Views of a Veteran...interesting read...09 Apr 2009

From: yogi singh
Date: 2009/4/5
Subject: Issues to for Rally

My dear Sir,

As can be seen, you have provided most creditable leadership to IESM movement during last three months and really do not need any advise from a bystander like me. However being a most interested bystander (for the present) I would take the liberty of flagging some issues for the forthcoming Rally.

(a) It is indeed strange that in the midst of a global meltdown the PM can make unsolicited offer of $ 20 Billion to developed world to tide over its problems but can not spare 2200 Crore for its ex-servicemen.

(b) Congress Party which has ruled for 51 years after 1947 has through a string of wilful actions reduced the honourable profession of soldiering to being the last choice from first place it enjoyed in 1947. Why has it happened.

From: yogi singh
Date: 2009/4/6
Subject: Issues for the rally,

Dear Sir,

Please pardon my attempt at rendering unsolicited advise. But do believe me it is solely motivated by good of the retired and serving soldiers and the Country.

1. Downgradation of soldier over the last 60 years has been a delibrate exercise undertaken by the Congress who have foisted a huge fraud on the nation to claim monoply over the Independance Movement. Success of this fraud is contigent upon constant ridiculing and downgradation of all other who have made substantial contribution towards Nation's independance and later growth, namely the Armed Forces and Netaji Subhash Chander Bose.

2. With a bureaucrat at the helm of affairs from a party with known history of anti-soldier mindset it is but natural that Sixth CPC and Committee of Secretaries were used to heap injustice on the soldiers.

3. In such a scenerio it is but natural that all attempts to have the matter of OROP resolved through administrative route have been stymied.

4. Given their historical antipathy towards all that is military and nationalist and subserviance towards all that is Western it is but natural that PM from Congress will give $20 Billion to IMF to bail out rich of the world but will not spare even 2200 crores every year for OROP.

5. Our interests as soldier are intimately tied with those of the farmers and workers. These two are suffering as much as the soldier under the present regime. Farmers are committing sucide while the funds under NREGA are cornered by Congress functionaries and funds set aside for loan waver are used by rich banks to compensate for non-performing assets and Indian reserves are used by the PM and his `master' for ingratiating themsleves with the West.

6. Agitation is the only way out. Ex-servicemen must fan out and devote next month in educating the farmers and workers about the fraud being played on all of us.

with best regards

yogi

08 Apr ..Letter to PM and Service Chiefs..Col Karan

"REPORT MY SIGNAL - BLOG"

MISSION JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES

08 Apr 09.
To,
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.

Some of the emails received from the members are appended below for your information.

On behalf of YOU ALL, 'i' thank all the members, who have sent these emails to us.


In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

-------------

From: Cdr Sharan Ahuja

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:27 PM

Subject: [Stg_Comm] Hindi Link on IESM site www.iesm.org operational

Dear All,
A hindi link १२ अप्रैल २००९ जंतर मंतर रैली..has been made operational on the web site www.iesm.org from today. Kindly give this wide publicity.

Any article in Hindi connected with IESM activities may kindly be sent for uplaoding.

Regards

Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
------------

From: Karan Kharb
To: rajinder singh
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 8:10 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Fwd: "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - AN EMAIL FROM OFFICE OF SHRI JASWANT SINGH - FORMER LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE RAJYA SABHA - EMAIL 284/2009 -05 APR 09 - (R to S)

Dear Rajee (Col Rajinder Singh, The Bihar Regiment) Sir,

I am shocked at your anger and frustration. Perhaps there are reasons for us all - not only ESM and serving soldiers but for all citizens of this country - to feel a little frustrated and angry over the way the our governance has degenerated. But are the Bureaucrats and Politicians alone responsible for it? Does the Military have to ' wait and receive' its rightful dues from the Bureaucrats? There are properly enacted laws and privileges enshrined for Services. Look at the existing, authenic Warrant of Precedence where despite revisions there are vital portions where status and ranking of 1937 have been
upheld. If there is any individual or department who defies these statutes, Military Authorities must not tolerate and assert their rights vehemently especially when rules, norms and established conventions support them.

A senior Bureaucrat (Secretary level now posted in Delhi) is an old friend of mine. In January this year he enquired about my son who also happened to be in Delhi then for leading an RD Parade Contingent of his Regiment. Since this friend was impatient to meet him, we drove to Delhi Cantt. There we met my son and other officers of RD Camp ranging from Captains to Lt Cols - all happy and contented! But when we entered their living rooms, we found three officers stuffed into every room that had only three cots each but no cupboard, no TV,
no telephone, no mineral water dispenser, no fridge, no spare chair, table, no heating arrangements. My friend gave me a gasping look of horror and disbelief. "This is how you treat your own officers - Captains and Lt Cols - and blame us for lowering your status! Not even a UDC or office superintendent would stay in such neglect."

What he found even more shocking than the poor living arrangements was
the contented look and cheer on the faces of the officers. "I salute these officers for they are sacrificing their genuine comforts even in Delhi."

There is a training Institute (iCISA) run by CAG in sector 62 Noida. Military officers too attend some courses here. There are suites furnished with latest comforts found in a good reputed hotel, library within the living complex, swimming pool, excellently managed Mess with top class food and service. The dignity, decorum and courtesies extended to our officers here will put any Military training Institute to shame.

On what basis are we abusing politicians and bureaucrats? Have you ever seen any abusive outburst against the Armed Forces from any politician or bureaucrat. Let's restrict our comments to facts and refrain from wandering aimlessly in a jungle shooting spree.

There have been few Armed Forces Chiefs who have had the courage to give expression to their conscinece on matters of national importance. May be future historians will probe intriguing questions like: What was the aim of Op Parakram? Why was the entire Army mobilised? Did someone ask the Defence Minister or Prime Minister to spell out the national Aim. Or no body dared to question the political leadership? Kargil attacks were all launched frontally defyhing all theories, concepts and lessons learnt from miilitary history. This took unacceptably heavy toll of precious lives of our gallant soldiers who could be saved had our top brass asserted itself over the civilian leadership to adhere to military wisdom in matters of war. Even on plain military matters they have retracted their statements on the first frown from a Sushma Swaraj or a Jaswant Singh without daring to refute and reafirm their views. Why has the military top brass become so meek and and timid? What has changed other than our own attitude? Would refuting baseless, uninformed and unjustifiable criticism from politicians compromise their 'apolitical' credentials? Rubbish!

A more dangerous security scenario is unfolding with Taliban knocking at our door. Economy is in a whirlpool; criminals are becoming law-makers; politicians are either directly supporting the divisive anti-national elements or conniving for petty gains. When things go wrong internally or externally, they rush to Military to restore order. Don't we have a concept of 'Pre-emptive Ops'? Why not apply the concept in preserving civil, internal security rather than wait and act only after things have gone out of hands. Why can't the Military top brass not question the 'wrongs' in governance that jeopardise national security?

Some time back I wrote to the Service Chiefs. I have not circulated this letter in public because I was waiting to hear from their offices first although there is nothing of classified nature (Secret or Confidential) in it. But like our honourable PM, none of them thought it worthy of even an acknowledgement.

What I suggest is that we should first set our own house in order. There are a lot of good politicians (bad ones outnumber them though!). There are a good number of bureaucrats too who respect and love Armed Forces. Let us have restraint in our angry outbursts against them. If we have already reached a passe where nothing good can be expected of politicians and bureaucrats, then the Nation must rise and change the very system. But do we know of a better system to suggest to the Nation? Whatever its ills, Democracy is still regarded as the best form of Governance througout the civilised world. Any other form would ruin us faster.

Therefore please Sirs, Brothers, Friends, Countrymen - I exhort you to hold your guns. We need politicians and bureaucrats, perhaps a better breed. Why not find and adopt these better ones? Yes, they are interspersed here and there. Let's not convert our friends into enemies by making sweeping statements in angry and abusive language that shows us in poor light.

My letter to the Service Chiefs is attached

Regards,

Karan Kharb
(Col Karan Kharb, Noida)

------------

Turning Point India
1201, Sector 29, Arun Vihar, Noida – 201303
Tel: 0120-2454344; E-mail: karankharb@gmail.com
Blog: www.sarvabharatserviceindia.blogspot.com

From:
Col Karan Kharb 17 Feb 2009

To,

Admiral Sureesh Meta, PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee &
Chief of the Naval Staff
Indian Naval Headquarters,
New Delhi – 110001

Gen Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Army Staff
Army Headquarters,
New Delhi -110001

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC,
Chief of Air Staff
IAF Headquarters,
New Delhi – 110001.

India needs Active Role of Military in Nation Building

Dear Sirs,

1. Everyone understands how diligently and objectively you have taken a stand for restoring and preserving the genuine dues of the Services and the soldier in the post 6th Pay Commission imbroglio. My congratulations for your daring refusal to be brow-beaten by the bureaucrats and acumen to persuade the Government. You have already covered quite a distance and your on-going efforts shall achieve more for the Armed Forces of the country.

2. I am herewith attaching a copy of my letter to the Honourable Prime Minister. I have briefly tried to touch upon only the burning issues of today’s India in it. Needless to say that high level corruption, organised crime, communal animosity, administrative apathy/inefficiency, terrorism and resultant disquiet among the masses – all have military ramifications because they are all interlinked and converge to threaten national security from within. Beyond a point, even the current economic downturn can become a serious security problem. If so, can the Armed Forces afford to remain indifferent towards these vital national issues?

3. In the aftermath of Mumbai 26/11 we saw how people eulogised Army and the NSG commandos. They rebuked and treated politicians so contemptuously that no body dared challenge this public ire. Even Supreme Court has expressed its helpless so often.

4. If all this is allowed to go on like this, India's emergence as the next Global Power will be in jeopardy. We are getting dangerously close to anarchy. Our credibility as a Nation is at stake. The level of money power and muscle power at work in Elections is such that morally upright candidates cannot afford even to file their nominations. The choice for the voter in such a vitiated environment is limited between the corrupt or the criminal. Where do the people go in times like this? They believe: ‘Armed Forces are the key to all problems; when everyone gives up, Military steps in and delivers’. Will the Armed Forces step in only when a Civil War breaks out and the country has paid a price?

5. Despite being a smaller portion of the GDP than desired, Defence Budget is still quite a chunk of the tax payer’s hard earned money. Are citizens not entitled to ask their most trusted and revered Armed Forces as to why they are allowing this chaos to threaten the very existence of this country? I am not inciting any coup. But being ‘apolitical’ does not mean Military will remain mute and indifferent even as evil forces gang up to destroy the very fabric of our nationhood.

6. On the wrongs done by the 6th Pay Commission, you nudged the Government a little. They responded immediately, on-paper-mischief of babus notwithstanding. If you spoke a little louder, they would no doubt listen to you more instantly – even if somewhat disconcertedly. You may not need to shout at them but this option should still be retained for there might be occasions where you may have to protect interests of the nation even by twisting some arms. Even in modern democracies, Armed Forces cannot be slighted without their own acquiescence.

7. In a country where our politicians and bureaucrats do not know much about military matters, it naturally devolves upon the top military leadership to communicate with the nation from time to time. Whereas Military is often called to assist civil authorities, the vice versa is unthinkable. The political leadership also deserves to be briefed and educated about national security and military capabilities more regularly. The likes of Sushma Swaraj and Jaswant Singh who had the audacity to rebuke Vice Chief or Chief of the Army Staff for their comments on internal service matters or border management must be countered forcefully rather than letting them get away with it. Who can speak with more credible authority about borders and lines of control if not an Army Chief? What does Sushma Swaraj know about military ethos that would entitle her to speak on behalf of a delinquent lady Army officer facing disciplinary action?

8. Sir, I am not at all propagating any kind of civil-military confrontation. But how long will Military – the most potent arm of national governance – ignore the inner chaos at a time when Taliban is knocking at our doors? The civil administration must see the change in the air. They will do well to seek and listen to military counsel as a systemic norm because the security scenario is so evolving that our Armed Forces might be forced to compel the Government to listen to them (unless they are infighting and divided to be humiliated and destroyed piece meal like in Admiral Bhavat’s sad episode)?

9. In view of the unprecedented situation unfolding in the Sub Continent, it has become incumbent on the Armed Forces to play an active and constructive role in nation building; and expression of your concern and opinion on issues that involve national security is not only justified but very much warranted to save this country from impending chaos and disintegration.

10. India and her Armed Forces are fortunate to have leaders of your calibre and mettle to lead them. We are proud of you. In case I have exceeded my propriety in this communication, I would appeal to your magnanimity to kindly condone my exuberance.

Wishing you great health and happiness; a glorious niche in history and true contentment in life,

Yours Sincerely,



Karan Kharb

(Mob: 9818047092)

Encls: Copy of Karan Kharb’s letter to the Prime Minister dt 13 Feb 2009

-----------

From: ss sohi sadhusohi@gmail.com

Subject: Join IESM Jntr Mntr Rally 12 Apr at New Delhi

To: TRUNCATED, "REPORT MY SIGNAL" (CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in

Date: Wednesday, 8 April, 2009, 7:19 AM

Join Jntr Mntr Biggest Rally for OROP & Justice

Dear Sirs & Friends,

1. Mohali Bde plan to Move on two Buses to Delhi at 5 am sharp on 12/4/09 from Gurudwara Amb Sahib Ph--8 Mohali. Funds are being raised by donations.

2. Donators are also requested to contact imdtly for contributions for your own Noble cause of OROP & Justice.

3. We are planning not to Charge Jawans. Please book your seats immediately, on 1st come 1st serve bases.

4. Please remember No one will donate us OROP & Justice, We have to fight & take. with regards.

Col Sohi. 9815107744, Mohali.

------------


From: Balbir Kataria balbirkataria@yahoo.com

Subject: Karan Thapar Dialog at CNBC at 2230 h on 06 Apr 09

To: "Raj Kadyan" rajkadyan@yahoo.com , kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in

Date: Monday, 6 April, 2009, 11:37 PM

Dear All,


The Karan Thapar oriented Discussions at 2230 h on 06 Apr 2009 at CNBC, was indeed very thought provoking.


Even though Karan did try to trigger the thought that the issues of Income Tax, other concessions as also OROP to make the Defence Forces a lucrative profession to attract the right material may not indeed work out despite the desire of the Political Party because there could be forces which like in past may offer too many resistances to these, the most encouraging facet was the unanimous thoughts expressed by all that these would have to be done irrespective of which party forms the Govt. The concluding remarks of Karan also dittoed these.

My compliments to all of you. The positive comment of Lt Gen NS Malik about implementing the OROP within a year of forming the Government was very heartening.

With these it is vital that the Congress is also wooed to tow this line.

This will help in the long run because irrespective of the party which forms the Government the other which is in Opposition will support these all through.


The Karan Thapar conduct of the discussion was marvellous. He needs to be motivated to get the Congress also brought in a separate similar discussion as early as possible. Exclusive Congress discussion with you General Raj along with an ex Service Chief, and even Vice Admiral Harinder Singh and perhaps an articulate JCO or OR.


With warmest regards,

Balbir
Major General Balbir K Kataria, VSM
1233 Sector 29, Noida 201301.
+91 9811201566, +91 120 4317590

------------

From: krishna rao krishna.av65@gmail.com

Subject: IESM Membership : Ex Hav/EME, AVK RAO

To: satbirsm@yahoo.com
Cc: prenjen@hotmail.com , kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in

Date: Monday, 6 April, 2009, 11:13 PM

Respected Sir,

Plz accept my contribution for the IESM membership and find the attached docs for your referrence.



Find my details below :-

14552681F

Havildar

ANTIKAPALLI.V.KRISHNA RAO.(AVK RAO)

krishna.av65@gmail.com

9/15,Ambuja Colony,City Center, Durgapur-713216,West Bengal.

9932850192

Total Amount - Rs 100/-

Best Regards,
Krishna Rao
#9932850192

General elections..Brig Harwant Singh from Chandigarh

MISSION JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES

08 Apr 09.

Dear Friends,

Jai Hind.
An Indian Military Veteran, a very honest and sincere hard core soldier, devoted to the cause of Ex Servicemen, Brig Harwant Singh, is standing for the Chandigarh seat for the Lok Sabha elections.
We need your support physically and also financially if possible.
Financial contributions can be sent direct to Brig Harwant Singh, as per contact details below.
Please read the emails reproduced below.
Please do not leave any stone unturned and make sure that we are successful in sending this soldier to Lok Sabha as an MP.
Those of you away from Chandigarh, please write to your friends and relatives in and around Chandigarh to extend maximum possible help to Brig Harwant Singh, and make him (make ourselves) win the Lok Sabha seat of Chandigarh.
PLEASE GIVE WIDEST POSSIBLE CIRCULATION TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS EMAIL BY FURTHER EMAILS, SMS, TELEPHONE CALLS AND GOING AROUND PHYSICALLY IN THE CONSTITUENCY.
BRIG HARWANT'S VICTORY WILL BE VICTORY FOR ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER

LET US ALL STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

AND ENSURE

JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES.


HONGE KAMYAB HUM EK DIN.

In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Note - The manifesto mentioned in the email of Brig Harwant is not attached as all the issues have been covered in the emails below.
-------------
From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:03 PM
Subject: Fwd: Election campaign by Veteran Brig Harwant Singh
A self explanatory mail from Wg Cdr Thomas is forwarded herein.
Do I need to highlight how 'fed up' the average citizen is, about the way things are?? Misgovernance, corruption in corridors of power and criminalization of politics, have led to a situation that our very existence as a nation is being threatened by diverse divisive forces.
For past couple of years, particularly following national man devised disasters, cries go up for a 'cleaner,different, better' alternative to the 'chatta pattas' of various hues that reflect our total political option Since independence, these permutation/ combinations, have alternated in power, each as bad as the other.PEOPLE WANT A DIFFERENCE.
Most of us feel that the induction of ex servicemen in politics and their closer integration into nation building tasks offer us the BESTchance for India to move to its natural place at the head of the community of nations.
A FAUJI has a disciplined, responsible, persevering nature. He is an experienced problem solver, deeply nationalistic and is trained to understand the country's rural and urban mileau better than ANY other segment of society.
His SECULAR credentials are impeccable. Religeon and caste are NEVER a factor in his approach. Merit and Mission orientation definitely is.
He, the true Son Of the Soil, needs to now step out of the shadows, and bring glory to Mother India.
Answering to the citizenry's call for such a need, some Faujis are competing (fighting as some civilians call it, but fighting for a fauji is much more serious stuff !!) for a seat in the Lok Sabha this year.
One of them is Brig Harwant Singh, fighting from the Chandigarh seat.
I am writing to canvas support for him.
I am sure those in Chandigarh would support him with votes, canvassing, and advertising AND finances,since elections call for great expenditure.
I REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE ASSIST FINANCIALLY, TO THE BEST OF YOUR/ YOUR ORGANIZATIONS' CAPABILITY.
My request is addressed to
Veterans. Many are entrepreneurs/ working for corporates who may be motivated to support our cause for better governance.
Corporates. You have the Big Money. Dont you want a cleaner disciplined and safe country that permits you to conduct business better??
Individuals. You have cried out in pain in front of TV Cameras expressing your angst against the system that slept while the Mumbai blasts were planned and executed. NOW is the time to seek the alternative you spoke and dreamt about. Go and vote. Vote for Ex servicemen. Vote Faujis.
NGO.
NRIs. Mother lndia wants you to back a CHAGE.
Brig Harwant, whose specific case I am writing about is an excellent person to have in Parliament. A die hard Fauji, he has kept in touch with his roots and is a true Son of the Soil. We Want Him IN Lok Sabha.
His contact details are given below. Please follow your heart.
AND YES, IT WILL BE A GREAT HELP IF YOU SHARE THIS AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE. THANKS A LOT !!!!
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
A-35, Sector 36,
Noida 201303.
Mob: +919891279035
.............
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joseph Thomas
Date: 2009/4/7
Subject: Fw: Election campaign by Veteran Harwant Singh
To: himlynx@gmail.com


Dear Veterans,
This election campaign by Brig Harwant Singh(Retd) is very important for us veterans. Even if he alone gets elected, we get a voice in Parliament and in the media.

Veteran Harwant Singh has been a fearless and indefatigable campaigner for the welfare of military veterans. He is the right person to represent us in Parliament.

Parliamentary elections require a lot of hard work, support from volunteers and lots of money. I have no doubt that the veterans in and around Chandigarh will provide lots of support. However, all of should contribute money for the campaign.

I have arranged for one of my good friends in Chandigarh to hand over my contribution. I urge all veterans to contribute for this important campaign. It is for our enlightened self interest. Cash or cheques may please be sent at Veteran Harwant Singh's address given below.

Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)

Address :- 54, Phase- 7 , MOHALI . (Punjab)
Phones :- 91+98144 32554 and 91+172- 2270154.


WE MUST MAKE VETERAN HARWANT SINGH VICTORIOUS.


J Thomas

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)
To:
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2009 12:14:19 AM
Subject: Manifesto
Dear Friends ,
Please find attached my 'Manifesto' for the forth coming elections .
It basically covers FIVE aspects , namely , 'Good governance' , Elimination of Terrorism by strengthening external defence and internal security , ' De- Criminalisation of politics' , 'Revamping of economy ' and 'Social Engineering '

With Warm Regards,

Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)

Update Brief on the proposed Legal Challenge by V Adm Harinder Singh , Navy Foundation, President

UPDATE BRIEF ON THE PROPOSED LEGAL CHALLENGE


06 Apr 2009


Mr. Nirdesh Gupta, a prominent SC lawyer has been selected as our lawyer to file a Writ along with IESM and a small retainer has also been given to him. He had earlier fought the Maj Gens case before the SC and won the same. Having fought that case, he is fully conversant with our cause. His knowledge of the issues involved and the background information that he had already gathered went in favor of selecting him.

We are yet to decide on the firm date for filing of the Writ as we were awaiting all inputs including the election manifesto of the major political parties, withdrawal / running down of agitation by the IESM, discussions with other Veterans Orgs to present a joint case before the SC and remaining decisions of the Govt on some of the immediate issues emanating out of the 6 PC.

As you are aware we had taken up the inequity of granting Pension at the bottom end of PB 4 scales to many ranks and the enforcement of the SC judgment in the Maj Gens case with the RM, MOD and the service Chiefs. A copy of the reply received from the PPOC in reply to the letter to the CNS has already been circulated to all members and appears to be hopeful. Informal discussions with the NHQ, MOD and others have indicated that the Govt letter for Commanders/ PB 4 is likely to be issued in the very near future. We have also been informed that it is very likely that the new orders for grant of modified Pension Parity to all ranks from Capt to Lt Gen are under advanced discussion and also likely to be issued in the near future, before the current government demits office.
MOD had also requested for the name of a naval Veteran who will liaise with MOD and provide advice for satisfactorily resolving the outstanding issues flowing from 6 PC as far as we are concerned. The name of RAdm Sushil Ramsay has been forwarded for the same.
We will, therefore decide our next course of action after all these inputs are with us by end May 09

Some Views on Article by V Adm PS Das.....

07 Apr 09.
To,
All Members And ESM Organisations
On Emailing List of "Report My Signal".
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.

As mentioned in "Report My Signal" Email 282/2009, of 03 Apr 09, over 400 members sent emails to Report My Signal, in less than 48 hours, reacting to two issues, concerning the Veterans. These emails had two themes - one concerning an article in Tribune, Chandigarh, about return of medals and the other concerning an ESM organisation and its head.

The sentiments expressed by Veterans in these four hundred or so emails are justified, but I feel some used very harsh language.

Some of the emails received pertaining to the article in Tribune Chandigarh are reproduced below.
The emails below cover the general idea of all such emails received on the subject; it is not possible to reproduce all the emails.

The views expressed in the emails reproduced below are those of the authors of these emails.
Kindly do not start another wave of emails on this subject; at least do not send emails on this subject to Report My Signal.
Thank you.

In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

---------------

From: guru_bakshi@yahoo.com guru_bakshi@yahoo..com
Subject: Comments on Article - Agitations by Military Veterans
To: editor@thetribuneonline.com, arorasushma@gmail.com, ConsultingEditor@aol.com, Letters@tribuneindia.com
Date: Friday, 3 April, 2009, 4:17 AM

03 Apr 09

To,

The Editor
Tribune

Sir/Madam,

Admiral Premvir Das, in his article " Agitations By Military Veterans " has, listed quite a few so called 'priviliges' enjoyed by the ex servicemen, which are either 'inconsequential' ( like having a military Identity Card or being invited to military official/social Functions etc ) or ' non existent' (like the Air/Rail concessions) . In fact the Departments like the Railways are far more substantively generous to their retired employees and their widows who get 9 'free travel' passes’per year for themselves & their family members throughout their life..
He appears to have totally overlooked the fact that there is a big difference between the 'Serving' & the 'Retired' personnel of the Defence Services in as much that the Serving Personnel' are, obligatorily & legally, bound by a code of conduct, strictly within the bounds of the Army/Airforce/Naval Acts, which take away, from these personnel, the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India to all its citizens. Therefore, since all the incidents of ‘mutinies’ that he quotes in his article, relate to ‘Serving personnel’, these have no bearing whatsoever in respect of the kind of code applicable to the 'Retired Personnel' who now, post retirement , have all the rights & priviliges that other citizens of the country enjoy. In fact, if at all, the Ex Servicemen deserve to be commended & appreciated for the dignity, decorum, control & discipline with which they have conducted their protest & agitation, in order to get heard by authorities who appear to be totally oblivious to their just and equitable needs and demands.the Admiral has also talked of ‘judicial alternative’. Does he realize that the ‘Maj Gen’s case’ which, post 5th Pay Commission, was pursued legally, has taken nearly 10 years, with the Govt resisting giving justice to them till the last breath, so as to say, having even sought a ‘Review’ of the Supreme Court’s decision which had earlier gone in favour of 'Maj Gens'. So the alternative as proposed by the Admiral, would imply postponement of all relief to the ex servicemen for another 10 years or so, by when many ex-servicemen and widows would have left this world having lived a life of misery.

Finally,we need to remember that " Inequity hurts more than Inadequacy" as also that "Meekly Tolerating Injustice is as much of a sin as Doing Injustice" So far as accusing the Agitating Ex Servicemen of ‘deconsecrating the Uniform’ is concerned, they would certainly have been guilty of that had they also, like many other common agitators, become violent and indulged in undignified acts aimed at or resulting in disrupting civil life.

Lt Gen GL Bakshi, PVSM (Retd)
H.No.6, Sector 37,
Arun Vihar, NOIDA (U.P.) 201303
Mobile : 9810053365

-------------
From: VIJAY OBEROI oberoivijay@hotmail.com
Subject: LETTER TO TRIBUNE
To: "chander nath" , "CHANDER KAMBOJ" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Saturday, 4 April, 2009, 1:24 PM

Dear All,
I had sent a letter to the Tribune, late at night on 01 April, after I had read the piece on return from Delhi. Since it has not been published so far, I doubt if it will see the light of the day! Consequently, I am appending it below.

Regards.

“01 April 2009
Dear Editor,

I write to strongly protest on both the content and the innuendos in the piece “Agitations by Military Veterans”, by a person well known for pushing the bureaucrats’ line. How sad that an admiral fails to understand the compulsions that made the erstwhile warriors part with their most valuable possession - their medals, which they had earned for their sacrifices for the nation. It was done with utmost solemnity, with trembling hands and tears in the eyes! It was no agitation and there was no ungentlemanly behaviour, but a symbolic show of anger, frustration and dismay at the political leadership, which at the behest of their bureaucratic advisors, had utterly abandoned the former warriors of the nation. The protests by the veterans and not agitations have always been correct but how can a toady understand this?

I am glad the editor chose to publish this foolish piece on All Fools Day. It is in consonance with his well known trait of being HMV- yes the same logo that had delighted millions in an era which had true gentlemen, unlike upstarts who think everyone else as the ‘hoi polloi’!

Yours Sincerely,

Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi”
Former Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)
Former Director Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)
President War Wounded Foundation
313, MIG (Ground floor), Pkt-I,
Sector-23, Dwarka,
New Delhi- 110075
Telephone - 011-45604116
E-mail - warwounded@rediffmail.com ; enquiry@warwounded.org.
Web site www.warwounded.org
------------

Agitation by Military Veterans- A Rebuttal

This refers to ‘Agitation by Military Veterans’ by Premvir Das published in your Esteemed paper of 01 April.

While the authour supports issue of ‘One Rank One Pension’ to military retirees but faults their methods of getting the same. He also makes a point of them getting canteen facilities, (which are pea nuts and most of the Military Veterans in rural areas in any case can not avail of the same) and pride of uniform as a compensation for financial deprivation . Finally , he laments returning of medals in protest and suggests getting redress through the courts.

All this calls for deeper analysis. Up to Second Pay Commission the military personnel were getting ‘Service Pension’ which not only ensured One Rank One Pension but was higher than their civilian counterparts , e.g. in 1956 highest pension which a civilian got was Rs 800/- (Rupees Eight hundred only) which was the pension a Brigadier (and equivalent ) then got . General officers naturally got more. It was the 3rd Pay Commission that abolished the concept of ‘Service Pension’ and clubbed the military Veterans with the civilians and then the problem started. To rectify the problem many committees were instituted who recommended ‘One Rank One Pension’ which was accepted ‘In ‘Principle’ by many govts.

The 6 Pay Commission degraded the military still further and it generated a tsunami like convulsion amongst the Ex-Servicemen, against its down right unjust recommendations. Matter was taken up with all concerned but when there was no reaction a ‘candle light homage’ was paid at 61 war memorial across the country on 27 April ’08 to bring the point home . There after may other forms of peaceful protest were adopted culminating in ‘Relay Hunger Strike ‘ at Jantar Mantar Road , New Delhi , which commenced on16 December last year ( the day Dhaka was captured by those very veteran in 1971, thus heralding the birth of Bangladesh) . In the mean time many former Chiefs had written to the Prime Minister and one of them had even met him to give JUSTICE to the Defence Services but to no avail. It was when there was absolutely no reaction from the authorities that ‘Deposition’ of medals with the President of India, their Supreme Commander, commenced after a biggest ever Rally by the Military Veterans on 08 February ’09. Pray , what option the Military Veterans were left with , when the govt did not respond to their almost quarter century old , ‘Accepted in Principle’ demand of One Rank One Pension ?. It was only when they started ‘Depositing’ their medals that a note of their demand was taken by the media and the establishment.

Seeing the validity of their demand many retired service chiefs , majority of them from the navy and hundreds of generals and equivalent have joined the Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement for justice . Obviously they know what they are doing , perhaps more than the authour, given the high positions they had held .


While the authour laments deposition of their medals, he has no compunctions about the gross and glaring disparity between the pensions of pre and posts January ’06 military retirees. A Sepoy who retired in December ’05 and the one who retired next month gets 82% less pension than the latter. Similarly an old Havildar gets lesser pensions than a new Sepoy. An old Naib Subedar, who is a Junior ‘Commissioned Officer’, gets less pay than a peon of today. Are such anomalies justified by any canons of justice? These are of no consequence to the authour but false pride of the uniform bothers him . Perhaps the welfare of lowly army Jawans , Sailors and Airmen is of no interest to him.


The authour also castigates those who have deposited the medals getting gallantry and other allowances for these medals. He fails to understand that the accompanying letter clearly states that the medals have been ‘Deposited’ with their supreme Commander with a proviso that the same would be gratefully accepted after the Military Veterans get One Rank One Pension . So there is no question of forfeiting any allowances . The medals have been ‘Deposited’ in protest and NOT ‘Surrendered’ . how can one ‘Surrender’ ones symbol of honour ?


As regards getting redress from the courts is concerned, the govt has scant respect for the courts. The bureaucrats deliberately denied ‘Rank Pay’ to the concerned officers after 4th Pay Commission prompting Major AK Dananapalam going to the court . He got redress after about two decades of denial of ‘Rank Pay’. Yet the govt refused to provided redress to all others similarly affected contrary to Supreme Court’s direction that once a person gets redress the ‘concerned department is to also provide the same to all others similarly affected’.

Senior officers like the authour are responsible for the mess the Indian Defence Services are. They kept on harping on intangibles , like , (so called) ‘dignity of uniform’ but neglect the tangibles like the pay, perks and other monetary benefits to their juniors .

It is pertinent to mention that all MPs , MLAs , judges , direct entry IAS and IPS officers and many others including the authour , are getting ‘One Rank One Pension’ . Why deny the same to lowly soldiers ?

Finally , the authour appears to be currying favour with the present govt. His mother and mother-in-law are reported to be Congress MPs and one of them was a minister as well.



Sdxxxxxxxx

[BRIG HARWANT SINGH (Retd
54 , Phase-7 , Mohali , (Punjab )
Phones 0172-2270154 & 09814432554

To,

The Editor in Chief ,
The Tribune , Chandigarh
-----------

From: ss sohi sadhusohi@gmail.com
Subject: Fwd:
To: vm_one@rediffmail.com
Date: Wednesday, 1 April, 2009, 10:19 AM

Sir,
1. Ref Article Agitations by Mil Veterans need introspection by Vice Admiral In Tribune today.
2. This is his 2nd such negative/ anti ESM article in last 3 months.He always faces our/ ESM's criticism.
3. He wrote this because he is already getting one rank one pension & do not have sympathise with his Jawan who is getting 82% less pension as of today's ESM. This officer have lost link with his soldiers ground reality & humiliations being faced by him due to economically week section and is forced to salute public on gates. One must learn to remain with his own community in all thick & thins and help each other. Most probanly he never share feelings of his Defence Widows, parents & disabled ESM.
4. He may be primed by Sh Munish Tewari, sitting in Congress HQ man and could be aspiring for Governor ship. He should be satisfied with the job given to him already enough.
5. Soldiers Social value is his honour & pride and not medals only. ESM community is forced for agitations in the history and ESM are still doing it in most soldierly & in dignified parameters. Please remember, It is a war for Justice by brave ESM community & not a matter of only few rupees.

Col Sohi. Coord IESM Pb. 1121/71 Mohali. 9815107744.
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From: Cdr ABC1
Subject: MY VIEWS ON ....
To: "c.s. kamboj" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Date: Saturday, 4 April, 2009, 10:42 AM

Dear Kamboj,
I deliberately avoided responding immediately ... EDITED ... article, because I felt as furious as other colleagues. Having now lowered my temperature, I am attempting to convey, in a peaceable manner, my response.

I have known ... EDITED ... while I was in the Navy, as he was 2 years senior to me in the NDA. 'The Sherrif of Fractured Jaw," as he was known in the NDA, got of to a good start in the Navy, as he was Court-martialled for sleeping on watch while serving on a Seaward Defence Boat, very early in his career.

... EDITED ... has stunned & devastated me by enlisting for the public various events which are blots on the Services' copy book. ( I reckon his fractured jaw is the cause of fractured thinking.)

One "mutiny " on a ship, which he has enlisted is familiar to me as I was part of the incoming crew, relieving the unfortunate predecessors. While enlisting the misdeeds of the protagonists, he has failed as usual to assign the responsibility to the leadership. There are no bad soldiers/sailors/airmen, there are only are poor leaders.

... EDITED ... has said that many of those who participated in one of the mutinies ( cannot remember which, as i forthwith deleted the words from my computer), were taken to task , while several were left "TO WITHER AWAY." Who will take responsibility for not allowing ... EDITED ... to WITHER AWAY after sleeping on watch ? His father ? Part of the Steel frame ?

I request colleagues to inform us about the problems in the Eastern Fleet when ... EDITED ... was the C-in-C, ... EDITED ... Naval Command, as I would not like to go further into the morass.

I also request people to describe the career graph of his son in the Navy. Many people have told me that he is his father's son. Which description is more than enough. ( maybe my dragging his son in is not cricket (correct), but I am informed by reliable sources that the steel frame is still protecting the ... EDITED ... dynasty.)

I have one question for ... EDITED ... . If he cannot do any good for the Services, why doesn't he keep quiet ? Why does he have to act like a procurer for the I.A.S. ?

With friends like ... EDITED ..., who needs enemies ?

Regards,

Cdr. ABC 1 (retd)
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From: singh ... edited ...

Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: Agitations by military veterans
To: ... edited ...

Mr Premvir Das is a `different' man. This is not the first time that he has taken a position in total disregard to canons of justice. He had also objected to the Service Chiefs raising issue of pay anomalies. In the present instance he is again tilting at wind mills. On one hand he accepts that the demand of OROP is valid, but faults the vetrans for agitational politics. Apparently he does not know that in a democracy civilians have a right to agitate (within the ambit fo law) and in fact Jantar Mantar area of Delhi has been specifically identified by the government as the appropriate spot for such agitations. So the vetrans who are civilian citizen have eavery right to agitate for their just demands.

Second aspect relates to Mr Premvir Das's attempt to paint the link between the ex-servicemen and the serving as something unholy. It must be seen as what it really is - a product of sick mind. If he is so much against such associations, why does he not give up the same. Another issue relates to extension of CSD facilities to ex-servicemen. Mr Das sshould also take a little time out to explain the rationale for civilians in MoD enjoying these facilities.

I think Mr Das is positioning himslef for some kind of reward from the bureaucrats

.......
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ashwani
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Subject: RE: ARTICLE BY VADM

View Point.

He has always been like this. Don't we all know him ?

Ashwani
..............

Most negative & skewed views projected by Vice-Admiral ....(retd).


Appears like an "Opportunist"!

Brig (Retd) ... edited ...,


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ... edited ...
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 3:27 AM
Subject: Re: ARTICLE BY VADM
To:

IT IS SUCH OFFICERS WHO HAVE RUINED THE SERVICES!

Regards,

.. edited ...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cdr ABC 2
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 3:20 AM
Subject: Fw: [MilitaryVeterans] ARTICLE BY VADM
To: ... edited ...

Dear Friends,

Here comes the second salvo from the adversary, an article by VADM ... edited ... . He is doing his duty as HMV !!

There are unconfirmed reports that his mother and mother-in-law are Congress MPs and one of them was a minister as well.

One of his Jeeja was Defence Secretary and Mama Jee was the India’s ambassdor in USA.

Some people allege that but for his connections, he would not have crossed even the first hurdle of becoming a Commander. I have no way of verifying these but it does appear that he is returning old favours by regularly coming out with 'babu speak' articles.

Regards..... Cdr ABC 2

............

From: jolly

He is doing opposite of what Field Marshal Chetwood had said.

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THE END