DEPOSITING OF MEDALS - DEMANDING OROP

IT IS NOW OR NEVER

PLEASE JOIN IN LARGE NUMBERS

MAKE THE RALLY ON 22 AUGUST A GRAND SUCCESS.

LET THE INDIAN POLITICIANS, THE BABUS AND PUBLIC

SEE THE UNITY AND VOTE BANK OF THE ESM

WE MUST GET JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES

 

PRESS RELEASE

17 Aug 2010

DEPOSITING OF MEDALS AND SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDUM SIGNED IN BLOOD BY THE ESM TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER
ON 22 AUG 2010 FROM 11 AM TO 3 PM
AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI

 

Dear Members of the Media,

1.   The recent judgements of Supreme Court, High Courts and Armed Forces Tribunals (AFT) clearly reveal the grave injustices, apathetic attitude and arrogance of the Govt and the bureaucracy.   Defence personnel, specially its veterans are feeling angry, hurt and aggrieved. All their efforts including peaceful protests have not moved the Govt which continues to deprive them of their legitimate demands. The fact that All Party Standing Committee on Defence, a most powerful committee of parliament after taking into consideration the reasons given by the Govt for not accepting their main demand of OROP has strongly recommended the grant of OROP to defence personnel holistically in its report tabled in the parliament on 07^th May 2010 prove the genuineness of their demand. 

 

2.   Why the Govt is not looking after its Defence Forces who have been pillars of strength of our democracy?  They have always demonstrated their patriotism, bravery, valour, courage and have in great measure assisted the country in strengthening its sovereignty and integrity. The unhappy Defence Forces specially its veterans, who have given their best years of life in the service of the nation, do not augur well for the country.  Their status downgraded many times over, their JCOs (Naib Subedar, Subedar and Subedar Majors who are Gazetted officers are equated with non Gazetted civilians, their widows being left out from the recent small enhancement of pensions of JCOs and Jawan, no enhancements  in pension to the aged and old reservists, senior officer, JCOs, Jawan getting less pension than their three to four rank juniors, the superannuated disabled old soldiers not being included in the policy of broad banding for Disability and War injury, the non grant of third Assured Career Progression (ACP) to the Sepoy, ACP award of 6^th CPC not  been notionally applied while  fixing the pensions of pre 01 Jan 2006 retirees, the Govt not implementing the  judgements of the courts. The list of grievances and injustices is too long and never ending. They feel cheated when they see their counter parts in the Civil services and police have been  markedly put ahead of them.   This is no way to treat the Defence Forces. Mostly the sons and wards to Defence veterans are serving in the Defence Forces. The ill treatment of their elders will certainly adversely affect their morale and motivation.

 

3.   The Ex Servicemen from across the country through its ongoing movement, The Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) have decided to intensify their stir. They have once again decided to deposit their medals and present memorandum signed in Blood to their Supreme Commander on       22 Aug 2010 at 3 PM.  The medals collection and signing of memorandum in Blood will be carried out at Jantar Mantar New Delhi from 11 AM to 2 PM.  The representatives of veterans from across the country will bring along with them the medals and the blood signatures of veterans from their areas. 

 

4.    The Chairman of IESM Lt Gen Raj Kadyan has once again appealed to the Supreme Commander to kindly accept the medals and memorandum signed in Blood herself.   In his letter to the President, he has written, quote “It is earnestly hoped that the Supreme Commander would relent and receive the delegation in person. However, should that unfortunately not happen, as already intimated vide ibid letter dated 08 June 2010, the delegation would return without depositing the medals and the memorandum” unquote.

 

5.     The IESM requests our media to kindly pay its positive role to project the true facts of the issues of Defence Forces. We therefore, request you to kindly carry this news in your paper/magazine/TV Channels and give it the widest publicity. The people of India have the right to know why the Defence Forces are feeling hurt and anguished.

 

6.   You are also invited in strength to cover the event of Medal Deposit and signing of memorandum in Blood on 22 Aug 2010 at 11 AM to 2 PM at Jantar Mantar New Delhi.  The delegation of IESM will leave for Rashtrapati Bhawan at 2.15 PM to deposit the medals and present the memorandum to the President.   You are requested to cover the event at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 3 PM.  This time the delegation will be led by the Chairman Gen Raj Kadyan himself along with Vice Chairman Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM and others.

 

With Regards,

Jai Hind                                   

Yours Sincerely,

 Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement