OROP : The Sine Curve of OROP or ARE WE HEADING FOR "CONSTITUTIONAL DICTATORSHIP"

Subject:
An Article by Lt Gen BPS Mander / The Sine Curve of OROP

The Sine Curve of OROP

So much has been written and discussed about OROP that it has become impossible to resist from throwing in ones two anna bit.       Those familiar with physics will know that the sine curve goes through crests and troughs as measured from the line of equilibrium. A crest is a point on the wave where the displacement of the medium is at maximum and the trough is the point where the displacement is at the minimum.

Let us examine the OROP movement in this relation.   Crests   The tip of the crest is that the servicemen have come to learn of their entitlements, notwithstanding that it is a bit too late. Having retired after 38 of service in the Army, it was only after retirement, I learnt that our pensions had been reduced 40 years back when we were Lieutenants.   If anyone thinks that the system is going to take care of you, it is an erroneous belief.   The serving officers are retired officers of tomorrow ( though one does not believe it as long as one is serving).   We have clearly come to recognize the difference between the pay scales and service conditions of the Defence forces and the following

(a)    Bureaucracy (b)    Para Military Forces (c)    Politicians. (d)    Other Government Agencies. We dont need a genius to tell us that the services have been short changed from when on.

The fact that we can be exploited because the Defence  Forces are not allowed to protest, has come across with great clarity.   That there still exist officers with pride and self respect who will do anything for a collective cause. My respect and salutation goes out to the officers and other ranks who went on fast unto death, because only the defence forces understand the value of life, and they were doing it in peace time for their colleagues.   Mahroof Raza. This is my individual opinion, That he came across as a sane voice in support of the veterans in spite of being on Times Now.

Troughs   The trust between the government and the defence forces has been eroded to some     [read '' much ''  ]  extent.

The defence forces will demand their rightful place in the in the hierarchy, maybe in a more forceful manner than earlier.

The Chiefs of the three services may act in unison to demand their rightful place and status vis as vis the bureaucracy.

The psyce of the soldier may change.

Bureaucracy. Nothing was expected from them, but they still excelled in the negative.

The red herrings of VRS and 5 years review and the like, are all their insertions. Let me kill the point of the bureaucracy here.

Why do they rule roost? It happens all over the world including matured democracies.

What do they exploit? Their continuity, their ability to show greener pastures, and the Core - principle,- when we are together, no one else matters.

 

Lots of people let us down, but I am putting across only those whose opinion may have mattered, but they did not come forward. Why they did not come forward could only be for two reasons:(a)     That they did not understand what our demand was; or whether the Defence forces had actually not been given their due. (b)    They were aware; but their self preservation instincts did not allow them to come forward to support the cause.

 

Where were our defence officers children who were part of the film fraternity and today playing croquet with sapphire studded mallets?

The  Anushkas, the Dhupias, the Jetlys, and so on. The list is endless.

 They acknowledge that they grew to that stature because they were Defence Forces Children. So is there no payback time? They go cart wheeling with Coldrin tablets, when Salman Khan sneezes. So (?)

 

Where were the defence officers children in the media? The Arnabs, Thapars, Sawants, Rahuls and so on who owe so much to their background. They covered Kargil not because of their interest in the Services, but because of the glory they got form it.  Some of them rose by putting out anti defence forces articles, to reach where they did.

Was it not time to pay back?

 

                       Or

 

did they succumb to pressures from the Ministry of Info and Broadcasting, which loads them with funds?

 

And where were the Corporates? Though I dont blame them. Their survival is directly linked to the government. But today some are so big that an indication from them, makes the government take notice.

 And finally the political system. Has it become so enslaved to the babus, that they need clearance for everything? Are we seeing a reversal of roles here? Are we going to see a government that will have no say by the  elected representatives and a country controlled by file pushing babus? You take your pick.

Line of Equilibrium   There were a lot of fence sitters. Army never has fence sitters as the fence in the army is of barbed wire, and it is difficult to sit on it.

 

This phenomenon is peculiar to the others.

Come friends, we are not looking for sympathy, as the fight is about our rights. We are asking for something which should not have been taken away from us forty years back.We would have wanted so many to come out from the shadow of the node and take sides. Not necessarily ours. We would have known where we stand.

 

And to the Defence Forces I say that we are fighting over trivia and missing a larger point.

OROP is a life time concept and its implementation has to be independent of the Central Pay Commission.

The CPC must take OROP into its fold as it is, and not adjudicate on it !                                                  Let not OROP stand for

                  'Our Retest On Perseverance'

I end with only a small note of caution, as we are not begging; only demanding our rights. We will find a method to achieve it.                  Hum to dariya hain,           apna hunar jaante hain;  Jis taraf Jaaenge, raasta banaa lenge.

              

( We are like a river in flow, we know our talent and capability, We will make and carve our way, as we go along)   Anyway let the Tweedledum ( Pol class) and the Tweedledee ( Babus) resolve the issue. Let Lewis Carroll rest in peace.     PS:- My grateful thanks to the Delhi Police who tried to wrestle with veterans, bringing OROP into focus. Without their help, there would have been no OROP.