OROP KRANTI : TO DAY ON 03 DEC 1971 & STILL WHY DO THE POLITICIANS AND THE BUREAUCRATS DESPISE THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES SO MUCH??

SOURCE :: FACE BOOK


                              TO DAY ON 03 DEC 1971

Remembering the Service & Sacrifice of ‪#‎Braveheart‬ Lnc Nk Albert Ekka,‪#‎ParamVirChakra‬ who sacrificed his life this day in 1971.‪#‎ServingOurNation‬

Flags of Honour

2 hrs · 

Remember & Never Forget - ‪#‎ServingOurNation‬

Rememberng the Service and Sacrifice of ‪#‎Braveheart‬ Lance Naik Albert Ekka,‪#‎ParamVirChakra‬, 14 Guards who sacrificed his life on this day in 1971 in the‪#‎IndiaPakistanWar‬.

Lnc Nk Ekka was in the left forward company of a battalion of the Brigade of Guards during their attack on the enemy defences at Gangasagar on the Eastern front.The assaulting troops were subjected to intense shelling and heavy small-arms fire, but they charged onto the objective and were locked in bitter hand-to-hand combat. Lnc Nk Ekka noticed an enemy light machine-gun (LMG) inflicting heavy casualties on his company. With complete disregard fo his personal safety, he charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the LMG. Though seriously wounded in this encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades through the mile deep objective, clearing bunker after bunker with undaunted courage.

Towards the northern end of the objective one enemy medium machine-gun (MMG) opened up from the second storey of a well-fortified building inflicting heavy casualties and holding up the attack. Once again this gallant soldier, without a thought for his personal safety, despite his serious injury and the heavy volume of enemy fire, crawled forward till he reached the building and lobbed a grenade into the bunker killing one enemy soldier and injuring the other. The MMG however continued to fire. With outstanding courage and determination Lnc Nk Ekka scaled a side wall and entering the bunker, bayoneted the enemy soldier who was still firing and thus silenced the machine-gun, saving further casualties to his company and ensuring the success of the attack. In this process however, he received serious injuries and succumbed to them after the capture of the objective.

Flags of Honour Foundation Salutes the valour and supreme sacrifice of Lnc Nk Ekka.

‪#‎India‬ ‪#‎IndianArmedForces‬ ‪#‎IndianArmy‬

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Ammu Ahlu

21 mins

Please circulate to 1.3 billion Indians-

WHY DO THE POLITICIANS AND THE BUREAUCRATS DESPISE THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES SO MUCH?? 
PURUSHE

Dear People Of India,

1 We are Indian Army Soldiers. Countries like the US and UK and most other advanced democracies, with Armies that are facing conflict, venerate the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. The UK parliament has even passed a law called Armed Forces Covenant . An Armed Forces Covenant is the expression of the moral obligation that the government and the nation owe to the armed forces community. The covenant acknowledges that members of the armed forces sacrifice some freedoms and often face dangerous situations. It recognises that families play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of the armed forces. It is only in India where our men and women have to go through the humiliation of a comparison with a discredited bureaucracy.

In the United States, 15 presidents have served in the Army/Army Reserve , 9 in the State Militias, 6 in the Navy/Naval Reserve, with 2 presidents having serving in the Continental Army. In addition, eight presidents served during World War II, while seven served in the military during the American Civil War. That was the kind of military service they did before becoming the President and Commander in Chief of the US of America. No wonder they respect their Armed Forces and their Veterans.

2 Your Armed Forces cannot be compared with the IAS, IPS, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF , NSG, Railway Protection Force, Rapid Deployment Force or the State Armed Police Forces.A Nation can have only one Military. The renowned sociologist Morris Janowitz had famously said: “The intimate social solidarity of the military profession is both envied and resented by civilians.” A bureaucrat is in no way comparable to a man or woman who serves in the Armed Forces. Nowhere is this comparison even attempted, not in the United States, the United Kingdom or even China. It’s laughable and making that comparison is ludicrous. Neither can the Armed Forces be compared or equated to other police forces of a Country.

3 WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU AND TO NO ONE ELSE BECAUSE :

(a) WE HAVE PLEDGED TO PROTECT YOU, AND WE LIKE TO KEEP OUR WORD !

(b). WE ARE SURE THAT YOU LOVE US AND WE KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE INDIAN MILITARY IS THE LAST BASTION OF HOPE WHEN THE GOVT MACHINERY, IAS, IPS, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF , NSG, Railway Protection Force HAVE FAILED ----- AND WHEN FINALLY THE ARMED FORCES FAIL ; INDIA WILL BE LOST.

PLEASE KNOW THESE FACTS.

4 THE GOVT, FINANCE MINISTRY AND THE IAS/IPS LOBBY IS DENYING YOUR SOLDIERS OROP UNDER THE PLEA OF FINANCIAL SCARCITY . THE FOLLOWING WILL TELL YOU THEIR SCARCITY :

(a) OROP ALREADY EXISTS FOR 100% OF THE BUREAUCRATS, JUDICIARY AND ALL THE PARLIAMENTARIANS.

(b). OUR PENSION WAS BROUGHT DOWN FROM 70% to 50 % ( actually to 37 percent for RANKS) WHILE THEIRS WAS RAISED FROM 30% TO 50% IN THE 3rd CPC .

(c). IN THE 6th CPC THEY DOLED OUT NFU - A SYSTEM BY WHICH ALL IAS, IPS OFFICERS & GROUP A SERVICES (LESS ARMED FORCES) WOULD RETIRE AT THE HIGHEST PAY SCALE -THEREBY GIVING THEM HIGHEST PENSION PLUS OROP. THEY LEFT FORCES OUT OF IT.

(d). THE IAS ,IPS and the CENTRAL SERVICES also gave themselves ACP - ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION - BUT AGAIN LEFT FORCES OUT OF IT . BY DOING THIS , THEY BROUGHT US DOWN SEVERELY AND HAVE MADE THE FORCES LEAST LUCRATIVE AND LEAST HONOURABLE JOB. Without doubt the aim was to downgrade the Armed Forces of India. OUR ENEMIES ARE HAPPY AND WATCHING THIS GREAT DRAMA WITH GLEE ! Do you know that till date a DIG was was between a Lt Col and a Col . Now a Col has been equated with Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). The rank of a DIG is now officially equal to a Brigadier. Both are now on a Grade Pay of Rs 8900. Because of the machinations of the Govt and the Central Services to run down the Military.

(e) THEY CAN "DONATE" $ 1 MILLION TO MONGOLIA, DONATE 1.25 LAC CRORE TO A STATE VOTE BANK, LET SCAMS OF LACS OF CRORE IN GOVT , IPL AND BCCI, give bailouts of hundreds of LAKHS to AIR INDIA but feel poor when it comes toRs. 8,300 crores for the Armed Forces personnel who are" FORCED " TO RETIRE YOUNG SO THAT THE NATION CAN SLEEP EASY.

5 It is not just Modi's promise but a four decade old promise, AN APPROVED PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (KOSHIARY ) REPORT, A FAVOURABLE SC JUDGMENT (Maj Gen Vains ) and a promise by all Govts.

6 YOU CANNOT REMAIN INSULATED AND SEE VETERANS AND WIDOWS IGNORED AND THE STATUS AND PARITY OF THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES vis-a- vis OTHER GOVT SERVANTS DISTORTED. AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1947 !!

7 GOD FORBID IF ONE OF YOUR OWN SON or DAUGHTER or RELATIVE IS IN THE FORCES ~~ WOULD YOU STILL FEEL THE SAME ?? WILL YOU SEND YOUR NEXT GENERATION TO THE ARMED FORCES NOW ??

8 WE ARE BARRED FROM STRIKES , PROTESTS, UNIONS ETC -FOR REASONS OF DISCIPLINE , BUT REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN GET WHAT THEY WANT ANY TIME BY RESORTING TO RIOTING, RAIL-ROKO etc !

9 HAVE WE EVER FAILED YOU IN PEACE, WAR OR TERRORISM, RIOTS, FLOODS, EARTHQUAKE ?? JUST LAST WEEK, EVEN THE SMALL SCALE RIOTS IN GUJARAT COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE POLICE OR THE PARA MIL FORCES ( !! ) AND THE ARMY DID THE JOB !!

CAN THIS NATION SURVIVE WITHOUT ITS ARMED FORCES ??

REMEMBER SALARY MAKES US DO OUR JOB BUT ITS HONOUR AND RECOGNITION THAT IMPELS US TO EMBRACE DEATH WILLINGLY WHILE EXECUTING OUR JOB.

THE POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS HAVE DISHONOURED US. 

PLEASE SUPPORT US IN OUR PLEAS. SO SPREAD THIS MSG FOR YOUR GOOD AS WELL AS OURS.

                        Air Force Veteran

OROP KRANTI ::Voice of Veterans at Jantar Mantar

SOURCE ::

SOURCE :: CURTSEY Sainik Darpan

Sunday, 29 November 2015

​Voice of Veterans at Jantar Mantar

SOURCE ::

CURTSEY 

Sainik Darpan

http://sainikdarpan.blogspot.in/

Dear Veterans

The report that Parrikar is likely to launch media blitzkrieg against protesting veterans and that too after having gagged media over OROP issues, shows the Govt is under great pressure to counter its sagging image.  It is evident that the protest at Jantar Mantar is having its desired effect.  The Govt is not only worried about its image on the national scene but it is also becoming a laughing stock on the international scene.  The stinging views on social media and the international media on veterans grievances is both disgusting and shameful.

The formation of UFESM by IESM (Satinder) has had a great all round impact despite all attempts by Jaichands prompted and supported by Govt.  This movement must go on and add the following more points to pressurize the Govt:

(a)  No compromise on OROP as hitherto demanded.  This is an issue of honour and not necessarily of monetary gains.

(b)  Agitate against 7 CPC's attempt to further denigrate the status and privileges of Defence Forces. 

(c)  Be spokespersons for the serving fraternity since they remain gagged due to service conditions.  Establish a mechanism with serving fraternity to get all the feed-back and bring it to the notice of the Govt.  

To all veteran leaders, sans Jaichands and petty minded, I request to strengthen the hands of IESM (Satinder) and UFESM at Jantar Mantar to counter Govt's moves to suppress the voice of veterans.  The Jantar Mantar is gathering momentum and strength.  If you can't support Jantar Mantar leadership, at least keep your mouth shut.  Please do not be an obstacle in their way.  You carry on with whatever you want to do --- submit, compromise or be bribed to issue statements in support of Govt --- but let Jantar Mantar do its splendid job it is doing.

I would also like to warn veteran leaders leading agitation at Jantar Mantar to be ready with the over-night swoop and taken to unknown destinations and be prosecuted under sedition charges. 

 The second line of leaders must go on with the agitation.  This second line leadership should be earmarked now.  

Vtrn Ram Gulrajani

[Tri Services Veteran]

OROP KRANTI :: OROP Row: Govt Forms New Commission, Veterans Reject it

SOURCE ::
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/orop-row-govt-forms-another-commission-to-look-into-shortcomings/1/534061.html

OROP Row: Govt Forms New Commission, Veterans Reject it

The government has announced it will form a single-member commission to do away with the shortcomings of OROP. 

The commission will be announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in December.

 The step has been taken after directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi government seems to have finally heard the voices of one rank, one pension(OROP) activists protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

The government has announced it will form a single-member commission to do away with the shortcomings of OROP. The commission will be announced by Defence MinisterManohar Parrikar in December. The step has been taken after directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, veterans have rejected the one-man commission describing it as government's delaying tactics. 

Instead of the one-man commission, veterans have demanded a 5-men committee which will include members from three services Army, Air Force and the Navy and one serving member and one nominated member by defence minister. 

ALSO READ

 Let veterans prove OROP row is not politically motivated: Manohar Parrikar

This is after some OROP activists refused to end their strike even after the announcement of one rank one pension by the government.

A segment of OROP activists have continued their agitation despite the new pension system for defence personnel being notified on November 7 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier said that  it was impossible to satisfy everyone. He further stressed that the commission formed to look into the objections that the retired defence officers have raised over OROP is being looked into by a special commission. 

"Core issue have been addressed. The commission will look into problems if any. This is a democracy, everyone has the right to demand. We have fulfilled the main demand, but we can't satisfy everyone," Parrikar had said.

Also Read | 

No more tweaking in OROP, says Manohar Parrikar 

The government rolled out the OROP scheme for military veterans before Diwali but some of the sticking points remained unaddressed apart from dropping of the contentious clause like excluding the existing lot of those who were on voluntary retirement from the benefit

There are 3 main bones of contention:

1. Veterans wanted equalisation of pension every year. But the government has notified that it would happen only once in five years.
2. Veterans wanted the revised pensions to be fixed at the maximum of the current pension, whereas, the government has pegged it to the current average.
3. OROP activists wanted the commission looking into their grievances to comprise ex-servicemen and those currently serving in the armed forces. But the government appointed a judicial commission.

IndiaToday.in 

  New Delhi, November 29, 2015

OROP KRANTI ::I REQUEST THE DATE BY WHICH "OROP" WILL BE IMPLEMENTED -BRINDA KARAT

I REQUEST THE DATE BY WHICH "OROP" 

WILL BE IMPLEMENTED 

OROP KRANTI :: PARIKAR MOVES DESW INTO "FUP" TO LAUNCH BLITZKRIEG ON JANTAR MANTAR

SOURCE ::http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Parrikar-to-Launch-Media-Blitzkrieg-against-Protesting-Veterans/2015/11/27/article3148883.ece

Parrikar to Launch Media Blitzkrieg against Protesting Veterans

                                By 

                                                      Pradip R Sagar

27th November 2015

 The Defence Ministry will 

launch a publicity blitzkrieg to counter the 

“negative propaganda” on the One Rank, 

One Pension scheme.

The ministry feels that despite agreeing to 

a majority of the demands of the veterans 

and resolving the four-decade-old issue, a 

section of the defence personnel are 

continuing their agitation to discredit the 

government.

According to sources, the department of 

ex-servicemen’s welfare has been directed by the ministry to come out with detailed advertisements, explaining each and every issue of the OROP scheme, in all newspapers, including vernaculars, which was notified by the government early this month.

An awareness campaign will also be 

launched keeping in view the forthcoming 

Assembly elections in states like Punjab 

and Uttar Pradesh, which has a large 

population of defence personnel.

On the issue of OROP, both the 

government and the veterans have come 

out against each other and the latter even 

burnt their medals in protest recently, 

forcing Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to publicly denounce their action and assert that all their demands cannot be met.

Parrikar has repeatedly said in public that 

the behaviour of the ex-servicemen, 

protesting the notification on OROP 

scheme, was “unlike that of a soldier” and 

that they had been misguided.

Parrikar has also gone ahead to say that 

medals were a recognition of the nation 

for the sacrifices of the armed forces and 

as such, burning or returning them was an insult to the nation and the defence forces. The government also feels that veterans’ protest has political linkages. “It is very disturbing that a section of the veterans are spreading misinformation on OROP despite the government paying over `8,000 crore annually to settle the four-decade-long demand of defence personnel. Some clarity is required to counter the misinformation campaign,” said an official of the department.

The issue of veterans has now become a 

political weapon as various opposition 

parties have come out in support of the 

protesting veterans. The Congress has 

accused the government of practising 

“politics of deception”  and AAP leader 

and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 

called the OROP notification a farce and 

claimed it was not in the right spirit.

Alleging there are ‘seven pitfalls’ in the 

government’s notification of the OROP, a 

section of the veterans  are also 

considering legal options, including a 

petition in the Supreme Court  challenging the notification as they claim to have lost faith in the government.

OROP KRANTI : Former Navy Chief Writes to President on OROP, and Sharp Erosion in Civil- Military Relations

SOURCE :
http://www.thecitizen.in/NewsDetail.aspx?Id=5963&Former%2FNavy%2FChief%2FWrites%2Fto%2FPresident%2Fon%2FOROP%2C%2Fand%2FSharp%2FErosion%2Fin%2FCivil-Military%2FRelations

Former Navy Chief Writes to 

President on OROP, and 

Sharp Erosion in Civil-

Military Relations

                  ADMIRAL   L.RAMDAS

 Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Indian Army

Admiral L Ramdas(retd) 
PVSM, AVSM,VrC,VSM Magsaysay Award for Peace Maharashtra Gaurav Puruskar Father Graham Staines Award 

Lara-Ramu Farm, Bhaimala Gaon PO Kamarle, Alibag City, 
Raigad District - 402201 Maharashtra 
Nov 18, 2015 

Honourable President of India, Honourable Prime Minister, and Heads of political parties, 

I write this letter to highlight a matter of critical importance to the future of India - namely the morale, service conditions and fighting fitness of our armed forces, which in turn directly concerns our national security. In view of the increase in a series of terror attacks around the world, India needs to be alert. I am addressing my concerns to heads of political parties, in addition to the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable President of India who holds the all important Constitutional responsibility as Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. 

I retired from the Indian Navy as Chief of Naval Staff in September 1993 after nearly 45 years in uniform. My experience in the service and in the theatre of battle, have directly influenced my decision to work in peace and public service related activities post retirement. In the year 2004 , I was honoured by the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace in the region. My actions have always been dictated by my conscience, and for what I believe to be in the long term interests of our country and our people. It is in this spirit that I am addressing the senior leadership of the country today. 

The immediate catalyst for this note is the vexed question of OROP – and the recent events surrounding the relay hunger fast at Jantar Mantar. I am well aware that there are varying views with regard to the definition and implications of OROP – both within Government and indeed among the community of veterans. The bottom line is that positions have become hardened and intractable, and have continued to simmer over a period of forty years. This is despite a directive from the honourable Supreme Court, two successive Parliaments and the Koshiyari Committee which clearly defined OROP and why it should be brought into force without delay. 

While it is true that the current focus of discontent is the partial or non implementation of the OROP , I believe that this is an opportunity to bring to your attention some other issues affecting Civil Military relations within which one needs to understand the current impasse on OROP. 

Briefly stated we need to examine the following concerns: 

1. The steady and noticeable erosion of the Military vis a vis the civilian bureaucracy since Independence. Whether it is a perception or reality can only be determined when this is examined in some depth. 

2.The need to establish cordial and harmonious working procedures to ensure co-operation and mutual consultation with regard to Civil Military relations in the country.

3.Building a consensus on the role and status of the Armed Forces of a Nation as distinct from that of the Police, and various other security forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

4.The critical need to ensure just, fair and adequate terms and conditions of service for the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. 

5.Political leadership to agree to a common strategy and position on the fundamental premise that civil control over military should not be equated or seen as civil service or bureaucratic control over the armed forces. 

6.All the above points are inter-related and therefore need to be examined, viewed holistically and a way ahead crafted within a specific timeline - say by 1 April 2016. 

The perception that it is officialdom which has intervened to destroy or vitiate the original spirit and intentions of OROP is now widely accepted. The fact that former service veterans have resorted to extreme measures such as we have seen over the past 150 plus days, is a powerful indicator of their frustration with the seeming unwillingness of the Government to discuss the issue across the table. This unfortunate standoff would never have happened had successive governments taken care of the armed forces and their needs by being accessible for regular and direct interaction and dialogue, and not only through the members of the civil service. 

There has been no dearth of excellent and thoughtful articles and editorials both by veterans and civilian commentators, drawing attention to the serious risks of ignoring or worse, ridiculing, the issues being raised in a peaceful manner by the veterans. Seldom have we seen in our recent history the spectacle of so many former service chiefs from all three services writing letters to the President and the Prime Minister urging them to take action on this important matter . 

The Hindu newspaper in an opinion piece dated November 16, 2015 has talked about the need to “take charge of OROP” – and I quote: 

“The military has a core function in a democracy, and ensuring its apolitical nature is critical to the future of a maturing nation. Indeed, strained ties with the larger military community could have unintended fallouts in the long term. The widespread protests could contribute to disaffection against the government, going far beyond the cantonments.” 

“The OROP agitation is not a mere episode involving some disgruntled retirees; it has already found significant resonance among the serving ranks as well. That is worrisome. The protests may be dispersed, but the fact is that its effects are felt across the country” 

Let us not forget that today’s serving jawan and officer is tomorrow’s veteran. 

There have also been systematic efforts by vested interests to constantly sow seeds of suspicion regarding the intentions and loyalty of the armed forces in the minds of the political leadership going back to the early days of post Independence India. 

Regardless of the military takeovers in our neighbouring countries, it is to the credit of the Indian Armed Forces there has been no ambiguity regarding the supremacy of political power over the military. This has been one of the strengths of Indian democracy. 

India aspires to be at the high table in the comity of nations. India is also among the small number of nuclear weapon states. It is therefore important that the Armed Forces are motivated and empowered to discharge their duties without fear or favour. By the same token it is the responsibility of the government of the day to ensure the dignity, honour and economic well being of the Armed Forces. 

The current impasse over OROP, needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that stability and morale of the Armed Forces can be restored . Any attempt by any political party to treat this as trivia and to claim that the Armed forces are playing politics is not only mischievous but dangerous. The recommendations of countless commissions of enquiry need to be implemented along with OROP. 

I am confident that the President , the Prime Minister and all heads of political parties will deliberate and handle this critical concern in the spirit of non-partisanship. Please let me repeat, that settling OROP to the full satisfaction of the services is not merely a question of pay and pension alone, but of the honour, dignity and status of the men and women in uniform . This will be in the long term interests of the nation. 

With highest regards 

L Ramdas 
Former Chief of Naval Staff [1990-1993]