Photos from Cdr Sharan Ahuja Sja's post
Dear Members
Today is the 79 day of RHS at JM and our boys have entered in 17 day of fast unto death. Col Pushpinder Singh is admitted in RR but is observing fast even now. Hav Major Singh is also in 17th day of fast unto death. His condition has been declared that he needs immediate hospitalization but he has refused to be evacuated to RR and is steadfast in his resolve that he will break his fast only after Government letter approving OROP is issued. Ten more brothers are on FUD. UFESM salutes all the brave hearts who are on FUD.
Mood at JM is subdued in consonance with the medical bulletin for our brothers on FUD. But the morale is high and everyone is determined to fight to win. ESM are contributing with open hearts and we congratulate all ESM for their generous offers to keep the agitation going from strength to strength. Veterans from 14 states have been visiting JM and urging organizers to continue fighting for full OROP. The message is very clear from JM that we will not settle for less than full OROP.
Discussions are going on with Government and mediators for last 15 days but we have not been able to come to any solution so for. As on today atleast six mediators are in the field for facilitating talks, Out of these two are ex chiefs.
Communication is open with RM, COAS, Gen VK Singh and bureaucrats representing PMO.
Issues;
OROP definition has been accepted in principle. Base year has been agreed and is fixed at 31 Mar 14. However there is a difference on date of implementation. We are expecting it to be 1 Apr 14 as all articles of the budget are effective w.e.f 1 Apr of the year. Another contentious point is frequency of pension equalisation. We are insisting that to maintain true spirit of OROP definition it has to be every year but the Govt is not coming down below five yrs. Five years frequency will be against approved definition of OROP.
Concessions;
ESM team can work on giving concession on date of implementation to be 1 June 14, but is unrelenting on the frequency of pension equalization to be more than one year. Govt side is fixed at 1 Sep as implementation date and frequency of pension equalization as five years. Talks are going on to find a meeting ground.
Bihar Election;
Some veterans have expressed their opinion that a solution needs to be arrived at soon as within a week model code of conduct will be applicable on declaration of Bihar election by the CEC. OROP is an approved scheme and only execution order is to be issued. Model code of conduct prohibits Govt to release new schemes which can effect the polling pattern of the elections. Hence this fear is unsubstantiated. Every Indian is knowledgeable about elections in India. He/She will use his/her franchise as per his wish. UFESM has never favoured/opposed any party but has advocated and will advocate not to vote for candidates/parties who do not fulfill promises made by them before the elections. A soldier/ESM is equally intelligent and will use his franchise to improve his conditions.
Deteriorating Medical condition of the ESM on FUD;
This is a serious cause for concern. Medical condition of Hav Major Singh is deteriorating fast and doctors have advised immediate hospitalisation. However he refuses to move to RR. His condition is being monitored very closely and he will be evacuated to RR asap any seriousness is noticed.
Notwithstanding this a letter has been written to President and PM that it is the responsibility that ESM have been forced to go on agitation and subsequently FUD because of lack-luster response to OROP implementation by the Govt. The letter clearly lays down the responsibility of any damage/mishap to any ESM on FUD on union of India because of undue delay in issuing the OROP notification by the Govt. Discussions started in real earnest only after this letter.
Advise from ESM;
This is the time to hold your ground and do not permit more space under pressure. Any laxity/fear at this stage will not get us what we deserve or what we are fighting for. Despite this some members are advising that we should not be rigid and accept what is being offered by the Govt. While on the other hand a large number of ESM are suggesting telephonically/Email that we should not give concession under pressure. Even the ESM present at JM are steadfast that there is no need to be scared and we must hold our ground and get full OROP. I can confirm on behalf of all ESM that their welfare will be kept uppermost in our mind while talking to Govt officials. Any decision taken will be with consent of members present at JM. It has become a routine to brief the members of sainik Parliament about all the meetings and the discussions in them.
Misinformation campaign;
It has been seen over last few weeks that an effort is being made to create fissures in the unity of UFESM by planting unconfirmed news/reports. Latest articles in Times of India are a shoddy attempt for breaking our unity. It is for information of all members that all attempts have miserably failed and we are united.
Last ditch attempt has been made by asking few JCOs and ORs to pitch another tent adjacent to our tent to show disunity among ESM. This attempt too miserably failed that even media did not pick up this shoddy attempt.
Need to be careful;
We are almost close to clinching the final deal on OROP and any weakness at this stage will be very expensive.
Some of the ESM are apprehensive that we are not being rigid in our talks with Govt. This is not correct assessment.
This is the time to be firm and talk with your brains and not heart to make a final kill.
Weakness at this stage will make us repent that we lost OROP once again to machinations of bureaucrats. WOULD WE LIKE TO DO THAT, ASK YOUR HEARTS AND CONFIRM
Regards
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
Flat no 801, Tower N5
Gen Sec IESM
Flat no 801, Tower N5
Narmada Apartments
Pocket D6
Vasant Kunj
Nelson Mandela Marg
New Delhi. 110070
Mobile 09810541222
New Delhi. 110070
Mobile 09810541222
OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE GIVE HIM ONE OF YOURS.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My dear General Satbir,
I have seen various mails emanating from various officers suggesting acceptance of once in 5 year review. Various people are suggesting that once Bihar elections are imposed, implementation of OROP will not be possible till the elections are over. Hence people seem to be in a hurry to concede and get something!!!...
While taking a decision kindly read the situation. Who is worried about the Bihar elections? Military Veterans? I think we are being naïve. Can BJP go into Bihar elections without implementing OROP? The shoe is pinching the other leg. Until and unless you see this clearly your decisions are likely to go wrong.
The definition of OROP warrants yearly review and nothing short of it should be acceptable. We are on a principled stand and there is no reason why we should compromise.
I have been suggesting time and again that we need to demand that the Government should put out its arithmetic and the problems that they are envisaging in the public domain. If there is a genuine problem the issue can be thought over. In the absence of transparency and number of figures floating around the whole game appears to be to cheat the veterans once again. Why should anyone take any decision without explicitly knowing the arithmetic and the problems involved in implementing OROP? Be warned, if transparency is not insisted upon now, the whole thing can be twisted at the letter issue stage or at the implementation stage as it had happened in the case of Rank Pay Case. Once that happens, we can keep shouting and no one will be prepared to listen to us.
Incidentally, the Government has been approaching a number of people to mediate and lower our expectations. I have also been approached and I have conveyed my firm NO.
These are my considered opinion and you may act as you deem fit and my support will always be with you.
With Regards,
Brig V Mahalingam
I have seen various mails emanating from various officers suggesting acceptance of once in 5 year review. Various people are suggesting that once Bihar elections are imposed, implementation of OROP will not be possible till the elections are over. Hence people seem to be in a hurry to concede and get something!!!...
While taking a decision kindly read the situation. Who is worried about the Bihar elections? Military Veterans? I think we are being naïve. Can BJP go into Bihar elections without implementing OROP? The shoe is pinching the other leg. Until and unless you see this clearly your decisions are likely to go wrong.
The definition of OROP warrants yearly review and nothing short of it should be acceptable. We are on a principled stand and there is no reason why we should compromise.
I have been suggesting time and again that we need to demand that the Government should put out its arithmetic and the problems that they are envisaging in the public domain. If there is a genuine problem the issue can be thought over. In the absence of transparency and number of figures floating around the whole game appears to be to cheat the veterans once again. Why should anyone take any decision without explicitly knowing the arithmetic and the problems involved in implementing OROP? Be warned, if transparency is not insisted upon now, the whole thing can be twisted at the letter issue stage or at the implementation stage as it had happened in the case of Rank Pay Case. Once that happens, we can keep shouting and no one will be prepared to listen to us.
Incidentally, the Government has been approaching a number of people to mediate and lower our expectations. I have also been approached and I have conveyed my firm NO.
These are my considered opinion and you may act as you deem fit and my support will always be with you.
With Regards,
Brig V Mahalingam
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Only MEETING COAS... BACK CHANNEL efforts on..NO MEETING SO FAR WITH DM PARRIKAR... JAITLEY OFF TO TURKEY...
So VETERANS DECIPHER YOURSELF WHAT IS IN STORE N WHAT IS IN THE MIND OF THE GIVERS..
BABU PLUS POLITICIAN PLUS MEDIA ALL PLAYING GAMES... With RSS THE REFEREE... Rgds sharan
So VETERANS DECIPHER YOURSELF WHAT IS IN STORE N WHAT IS IN THE MIND OF THE GIVERS..
BABU PLUS POLITICIAN PLUS MEDIA ALL PLAYING GAMES... With RSS THE REFEREE... Rgds sharan