O R O P :: AGITATION AT JM IN SUPPORT OF OROP AND THE WAY AHEAD

AGITATION AT JM IN SUPPORT OF OROP                                 AND 
                   THE WAY AHEAD

Dear Veterans

Your fight for OROP is 40 yrs old when your status was lowered in respect to civil counterparts. Veterans have been fighting since then but to no avail. In 2008 some veterans got together and decided that gentlemanly behavior has only resulted in loss to our status and hence time has come to fight for our status. IESM was formed in 2008 and veterans truly believed philosophy of IESM and participated in rallies and dharnas organized by IESM in last seven years. IESM was able to communicate to people of India that OROP is our genuine right and OROP has been brought to center stage of Nation.

We have still a long way to go and convince citizen that life of an Armed Forces personnel is very tough. We made a big mistake of always showing our happy face and not talking about difficult life of an Army man. Today an ordinary citizen is convinced that life in Army is very good as they have free booze, CSD and clubs. This perception needs to be corrected. On the other hand bureaucrats have always been communicating the hardest part of their life even if they have most comfortable and lavish life style. 

ESM are agitating for 116 days at JM for approval of OROP as per the definition. During the negotiations in last three months, Govt emissaries made it very clear that the Govt is not ready to agree to approved definition of OROP and would release only highly diluted OROP.  What is the pressure on the Govt and what is the arithmetic of this rigid stand is difficult to fathom? However despite tremendous pressure UFESM refused to accept diluted OROP and communicated that agitation at JM will continue till OROP as per approved definition is released. 

    MUDRA  MANTRI IS ALSO A CONSPIRATOR  - 

visit http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2015/10/orop-politics-of-civilian-pension-bills.html

Despite objections from UFESM, Government made unilateral announcement of approval of OROP. On 5 Sept 15 RM, in the presence of three Chiefs, announced truncated and heavily watered down OROP.  While the Government claimed that it has released Rs 10000/ crores for OROP, the actual exp for this watered down OROP would not be more than Rs3000/ to Rs 4000/ crores per year as against Rs 8300/ crores calculated by RM. ESM at JM instantly rejected this announced OROP and called this as only one time increase and murder of OROP. The announced OROP is nowhere near approved definition of OROP. To rub salt in our wounds, PM announced in Faridabad that he was transferring funds kept for poor people to meet the demand of OROP. This humiliation is not acceptable to veterans and veterans loudly ask  about the exp and subsidies given for NFU, Parliament canteen and other host of issues. 

UFESM has communicated to RM that there are seven serious anomalies (shortcomings) in the announced OROP and OROP in this form is not acceptable to veterans. We have not received any reply or even a meeting to explain our objections. 

Veterans are aware that JM agitation is getting approval of vast majority of society. President and members of bar council of SC had visited JM and expressed their full support for OROP and even offered to fight our case pro bono. Sh Ram Jethamalani (RJ) luminary lawyer of India has also offered to fight our case for OROP free and has promised full support. 

In view of hard stand of Govt for OROP, UFESM has decided to enter phase three of agitation. In this UFESM will ensure visibility of agitation in all states. Accordingly rallies and Press Conferences are being organized in all states. UFESM has organized rallies in Nagpur, Vadodra, Sikkim,  Ambala, Gurdaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Gagret, Dharamsala and Simla. A very large rally is planned in Jullunder on 18 Oct  and Mumbai on 31 Oct  to explain the latest on OROP. More rallies will be planned in major towns and all states in India to explain to ESM that they have been cheated and the announced OROP is not the real OROP.

UFESM had taken a conscience decision to hold a Press Conference in poll bound Bihar instead of a rally. PC was planned at Patna on 4 Oct to be addressed by UFESM and Sh RJ. ESM from all districts of Bihar had come to attend the PC and to learn the latest status of OROP. Gen Satbir, Gp Capt VK Gandhi and Lt Pandey briefed the press about the latest position on OROP. It was made abundantly clear that sanctioned scheme was not OROP but heavily watered down form of OROP. Seven serious shortcomings were also explained to press and ESM. After the briefing on OROP, Sh RJ addressed the press and talked about defeating BJP in Bihar. This was beyond the planned and agreed format of PC and it was clarified by Gen Satbir and Lt Pandey. It was explained that these were personal views of Mr RJ and we are here only to brief about OROP.  Gen Panjikar, son of soil, also briefed about OROP and status of IESM. He asked ESM to establish IESM in Bihar and go to JM to take part in agitation and RHS. Gen P Panjikar had made all admin arrangements at Patna for PC. ESM of Bihar expressed faith in leadership of UFESM and confirmed that IESM Bihar chapter will soon become a reality. 

Information is being collated to file a PIL for OROP in case it is forced on us to go to SC.

UFESM has decided to intensify agitation at JM. Veterans are requested to forward their suggestions to intensify the agitation. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM

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