Friday, August 28, 2015

OROP : WARNING : DONT CROSS THE "LIMIT O F PENETRATION" LEST THE NATION IS DESTROYED

SOURCE:
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/even-as-rajnath-singh-intervenes-orop-deadlock-continues-over-this-clause-1212024?pfrom=home-india

       WARNING : DONT CROSS THE
         "LIMIT O F PENETRATION"
   LEST THE NATION IS DESTROYED

Mr MODI ,the Central heading above itself is self explanatory. The task of the 'Political Leader Ship' of the day is to identify 'THE ROUGE' as Pakistan has identified that INDIA is the only threat to existence of PAKISTAN.

           By the same token the only threat to security of INDIA is the 'INTERNAL THREAT' within the 'GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT" By the way 'INDIAN ARMED FORCES[AFS]within the  parameters of the existing governmental thinking is not the part of the
'GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT.'

AFS are the commissioned/ & or recruited

              MODIJEE, Now it is your job to identify which organ
              OF YOUR GOVERNMENT
  is a 'FIFTH COLUMN' security threat to the                                NATION.

             WISH U BEST OF LUCK

                            LISTEN.
THE VIDEO MAY HELP U IN FOR
                   IDENTIFICATION.

Published on Aug 28, 2015

The 50th anniversary of the 1965 war an occasion for war veterans to remember the great battles that they were part of. Instead, several 1965 war veterans were out protesting in New Delhi. With signs of fresh differences between the government and protestors, will One Rank, One Pension remain an unrealised dream for war veterans?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCUN40iUMHg

21COMMENTS

Meet on OROP Inconclusive, Differences Persist: Top 10 Developments

The agitation demanding the implementation of OROP has been on for over two months.

New Delhi: Talks between the government and the army veterans demanding the implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme held this evening has remained inconclusive. The veterans have again turned down the government's suggestion of implementing the scheme from 2015 instead of 2014, the key issue on which the talks have been stuck, sources told NDTV.

Here are the latest developments:

The meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh took place this evening, hours after a second army veteran was hospitalised and Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to handle the One Rank One Pension issue.

Top government sources told NDTV that the government is committed to implement OROP -- as reiterated by PM Modi in his Independence Day address -- but it won't want to be pressurised into making the announcement.

Sources told NDTV that a "positive movement" is expected on the issue this week since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handling the matter. There ae speculations that the announcement will be made on August 28, the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Earlier today, Havaldar (Retd) Ashok Singh Chauhan, was taken to the Army Research and Referral (R&R) hospital after suffering from "muscle atrophy". Havaldar (Retd) Major Singh, who is also on hunger strike, refused medical check-up.

The ex-servicemen's meeting with the government came with a view to settling the differences -- the chief one being the date from which the scheme will be implemented. Government sources say the time difference would mean an expenditure of Rs. 20,000 crore instead of the expected Rs. 8,000 crore.

On Monday, 63-year-old Col (Retd) Pushpender Singh, who was among the few army veterans on an indefinite hunger-strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since August 16, had to be hospitalised.

The army veterans had gone on indefinite hunger as the protests demanding the implementation of OROP escalated on Independence Day. The announcement was expected to be the centerpiece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Two days later, 10 former service chiefs wrote to PM Modi, expressing "dismay" at the government's handling of OROP and urging it to "settle this issue expeditiously and in an urgent time frame."

The veterans have repeatedly reminded PM Modi that OROP was one of his key promises in the run-up to the national election last year.

The implementation of OROP will give equal pension to servicemen retiring at the same rank regardless of when they retire. At present, a soldier who retired many years ago is paid far less than someone several ranks junior to him retiring now. It is expected to benefit 3 million former soldiers.

Story First Published: August 25, 2015 20:45 IST

Even As Rajnath Singh Intervenes, OROP Deadlock Continues Over This Clause

Sources said, the government is unwilling to appear as buckling under the veteran's pressure to implement OROP.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today met the Army veterans who are demanding the implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP and promised a resolution even as a stalemate over a critical clause continued.

Despite Mr Singh's intervention, sources say the government is firm its offer of reviewing pensions every five years while the veterans are demanding an annual review. The review rationalises outdated pension rates, in effect raising them after a particular period.

Talks between the government and the veterans reportedly broke down once again on Thursday night. Upset veterans decided to boycott celebrations today to mark the 50th anniversary of India's successes in the 1965 war against Pakistan.

There had been speculation that a date for implementing OROP could be announced today if an agreement was reached between the government and ex-servicemen.

Last night, the group of ex-servicemen negotiating with the government, walked out of a meeting that they had hoped would finally bring a breakthrough on their demand of two decades. They said they could not accept the government's new proposals on OROP.

Sources said, the government is unwilling to appear as buckling under the veteran's pressure to implement OROP. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday that PM Modi would make an announcement "as and when time comes".

The government is said to be upset that more and more veterans are joining the hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, which began after PM Modi failed to announce OROP in his Independence Day speech on August 15.

OROP will give equal pension to servicemen retiring with the same rank regardless of when they retire.

Story First Published: August 28, 2015 18:24 IST

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		Indian Ex Servicemen Movement

Anil Kaul

August 28 at 7:44pm

NEGOTIATIONS: OROP

From a week prior to the 69th Independence day a series of meetings between UFESM reps and Governmet/government appointed officials have been taking place. Some information, of the dramatis persona, the locations of the meetings and the discussions there on are doing the rounds. The media is reporting the same from, firstly its own sources in government and secondly as per briefings given out by the media centre of the UFESM.

First Attempt at Resolution: As a possible run up to the 15th of Aug and a fallout of the ultimatum of escalation from 16th Aug by UFESM if no announcement is made that day. The government emissary was Gen VP Malik the former COAS, the meetings were overseen by the good offices of Mr Rajeev Chandrashekhar, MP with the COAS and fin ministry as well as PMO officials in attendance. The UFESM team comprised of Lt Gen Balbir Singh, Maj Gen Satbir Singh & Gp Capt VK Gandhi. The discussions veered around a grand reduction of approximately 4-600 Cr from the worked out figures by MoD of Rs 8293 Cr. The way suggested was for UFESM to accept 2011 as the base year of fixation that would imply that there would be no fixation as it was in 2011 that pensions were last fixed,

secondly to push the payout date forward from 1/4/2014 to 1/4/2015,

finally that there would be no yearly review of pension and that reviews would be limited to awards of successive pay commissions.

Since this was against the very spirit of Parliamentary acceptance of OROP, Not only did UFESM reject the proposal unequivocally but the Government appoint interlocutor Gen Malik recused himself within 48h.

The government reps did request UFESM to call off the agitation and go slow on the escalation for a period of ten days. The first part was rejected but the second part was considered for implementation. However Col Pushpendra Singh & Hav Major Singh refused all efforts to the cotrary and went on Fast-unto-death (FUD) wef 16th Aug.

The other points of escalation came into effect the same day.

These were: -
1.15th August declared as a black day for ESM.
2. Boycott of all government run/sponsored functions will be enforced.
3. Black flags and Black arm bands will be displayed by all ESM
4. RHS to continue.
5. FUD will nor be discouraged unless medical condition warrants
As a result, no announcement was made

Second Attempt at

Resolution: Exactly ten days from Independance day that is on 25 Aug the system of meetings re-started. Since then there have been the following meetings almost on a daily basis. For all meetings only General’s Balbir & Satbir have attended in presence of COAS except the last one that was set up by Lt Gen NS Malik of the BJP ESM cell.

1. With the NSA Mr Ajit Doval.
2. With Mr Nripendra Mishra Spl Secy in PMO
3. With JS PMO Mr.Anurag Jain
4. With HM Shri Rajnath Singh.

Trend of Proposals The trend of discussions I nitially followed the same proposal as that of pre independence day. Since UFESM did not rescind from their stand of “No acceptance outside the definition of OROP as accepted by Parliament” ,

the government gradually started relenting and started giving counter proposals. These are summarized as below: -

1. Instead of insisting on base year being 2011 they would consider the base uyear as 2013-14 as per vote on account & finance bill 2014.

2. The pay out date be pushed forward from 1/4/14 to 1/4/15

3. There would be no provision of review of pensions except at the time of deliberations of successive pay commissions.

These were rejected outright as unacceptable in totality.

In the next round with Spl
Secy PMO the following was proposed.

1. Instead of insisting on base year being 2011 they would consider the base uyear as 2013-14 as per vote on account & finance bill 2014.

2. The payout date be pushed forward from 1/4/14 to 1/1/15. UFESM accepted considering from 1/6/14.

3. There would be no provision of review of pensions except at the time of deliberations of successive pay commissions.

Once again the UFESM members walked out.

The latest round was held on 27 Aug with JS PMO and government came down to the following lines.

1. Instead of insisting on base year being 2011 they would consider the base uyear as 2013-14 as per vote on account & finance bill 2014.

2. The payout date be pushed forward from 1/4/14 to 1/9/14.

3. There would be a provision of review of pensions once every five years against the proposal of once a year or once at least every two years.

The UFESM retracted its offer of acceptance of payment from 1/6/14 and rejected this proposal too. The underlying reason being the review of pension yearly or once in two years is the heart and soul of the OROP proposal.

This is for Information of all veterans and could be passed on to various groups and sites as deemed appropriate.

The above has been authorized for release by Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM as desired by the Principal advisors of UFESM.

Col Anil Kaul,VrC
Media Advisor
UFESM
28 Aug 2015.

INDO -PAK GEO MILITARY : INDIA - THE ONLY EXTERNAL THREAT - PAKISTAN MILITARY

SOURCE:

INDIA - THE ONLY EXTERNAL THREAT - PAKISTAN MILITARY

Published on Aug 28, 2015

The Pakistan Army has told the country’s Senate Defence Committee that India is the only external military threat to Pakistan. Watch the full report here.

© Provided by IBNLive

Islamabad: Pakistan military has told a parliamentary committee that India is the only external threat to the country and the situation with regard to ties was volatile in the wake of the suspended Indo-Pak dialogue.

The Senate defence committee led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed yesterday visited military's Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where it was briefed by chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood and his team.

The military officials shared the perceived threat with members of the Senate that India had over the last couple of years purchased weapons worth USD 100 billion, 80 per cent of which were Pakistan-specific, the Dawn reported.

The Indian army's 'shopping spree', it was said, was continuing and over the next five years it would be buying weapons worth another USD 100 billion. India, which is the world's second largest arms importer, has more than doubled its military spending over the last decade.

Delhi's defence budget for this year was USD 40.07 billion, the paper said.

This requires a continuous evaluation of the situation and upgradation of the response mechanism, the members were told. The committee was also informed that the situation was volatile in view of the suspended dialogue between India and Pakistan and the absence of any conflict resolution mechanism.
They were also informed on how the Joint Staff Headquarters worked as a higher defence organisation and Strategic Plans Division, which is the custodian of the nuclear programme.
Talking about the non-traditional security challenges, the military officials said threats in cyberspace were posing a major challenge and urged the government to establish an Inter-Services Cyber Command to combat cyber-attacks and cyber-warfare.

OROP: Veterans reject govt offer, boycott '65 war celebrations

SOURCE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-a-DqXRp7M

OROP: Veterans reject govt offer, boycott '65 war celebrations

Published on Aug 28, 2015

Protesting ex-servicemen boycotted golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war on Friday after they rejected the Central Government's latest offer on resolving the impasse over OROP as the protest entered its 75th day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-a-DqXRp7M

Published on Aug 28, 2015

Retired military personnel upset by the lack of a breakthrough on the issue of one rank one pension (OROP) have decided to boycott the government’s celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of India's 1965 war with Pakistan.

Veterans to boycott 1965 war events after OROP talks collapse

OROP row: Delegation of ex servicemen meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Published on Aug 28, 2015

Demanding immediate implantation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), a delegation of ex servicemen today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today met the Army veterans who are demanding the implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP and promised a resolution even as a stalemate over a critical clause continued.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related stories

PM will make announcement on OROP 'as and when time comes', says Defence Min Parrikar

One Rank One Pension Talks Break Down, Vetrans to Boycott 1965 War Victory Celebrations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There had been speculation that a date for implementing OROP could be announced today if an agreement was reached between the government and ex-servicemen.

OROP will give equal pension to servicemen retiring with the same rank regardless of when they retire.

1965 War Victory Celebrations Dampened By OROP Protests

For the first time, Army veterans today boycotted the official celebrations and commemorated the 1965 victory at Jantar Mantar.

New Delhi: Brigadier DP Nair had confirmed his presence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemoration function in the capital to celebrate 50 years of India's victory in the 1965 war against Pakistan. He got ready, his medals proudly adorning his blazer. Then, as he was about to leave home, he changed his mind, heading to Delhi's Jantar Mantar, instead of India Gate, where his "fellow brothers", as he put it, were protesting.

"I don't believe in boycotts, this is my government," he told NDTV, "But I thought it was unfair for me to attend the government function when my brothers were here protesting for OROP (One Rank One Pension)."

For the first time, veterans today boycotted the official celebrations and commemorated the 1965 victory at Jantar Mantar. continuing with their demand for One Rank One Pension. Maj General Ram Nath also boycotted government functions to support fellow veterans at Jantar Mantar. "We want to celebrate but it's very unfortunate that it has come down to this," he said.

With many veterans staying away, the President met the few who showed up at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, while Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reiterated the government commitment to its election promise.

"OROP has been accepted. We are committed to it. There are some gaps. It will take some time," he said.

The protesting veterans today also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Sources say, even though most hurdles have been cleared, except one. The government is firm its offer of reviewing pensions every five years while the veterans are demanding an annual or at least a biennial review. The review rationalises outdated pension rates, in effect raising them after a particular period.

Story First Published: August 28, 2015 19:44 IST

Thursday, August 27, 2015

OROP:: MISSING THE BIGGER PICTURE ON OROP -‘DOCTRINE OF BELLIGERENCE

SOURCE:
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-missing-the-bigger-picture-on-orop/article7583273.ece

               MISSING THE BIGGER PICTURE
                                      ON
                                    OROP

                                                                                BY

                                                                       Raghu Raman

CALLS FOR PARTICIPATION: “One Rank One Pension is not just a dispute between ex-servicemen and the government. It is a national security issue where every citizen needs to pitch in.” Picture shows ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi protesting for OROP.

PHOTO: PTI

Ex-servicemen protesting for One Rank One Pension at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi earlier in the month.

The One Rank One Pension issue has been ignored for too long. But any victory achieved through bellicose means will be, at best, pyrrhic, leaving a bitter legacy.

The Indian armed forces are fighting their toughest battle ever. For an Army that has fought on every terrain and in every operation imaginable, this battle is confounding.

Because this time, they don’t know which side the enemy is on.

As the national discussion about the plight of ex-servicemen reaches a crescendo, the toughest battle is being fought not at Jantar Mantar between the khaki and the olive green, nor is it being

fought between South and North Block that house the mandarins of the Defence and Finance ministries respectively.

The battle is definitely not about the blame game between political parties, none of whom solved the problem when they could. Neither is it being fought on primetime channels where screaming ‘experts’ misconstrue volume for value.

The toughest battle is being fought by the young leaders of our armed forces – the Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors. It is they who have to lead troops into battle with no material incentives to assist them. Consider their situation.

Acute shortage of officers

It is well-known that the Indian armed forces are facing a grave shortage when it comes to junior leaders. Many active combat units are facing an acute shortage of officers. Young officers, barely out of their teens, are handling bigger responsibilities than ever before and stepping up to discharge additional duties.

It is these young leaders who have to answer disconcerting questions from their troops, picketed in the heights of Siachen or the heat of the Thar, on

why their Own Government

Manhandling Them.

They have to justify the perceived perfidy of former Generals who seem to have forgotten their troops and the promises made to them. It is time we started thinking about our frontline troops and junior leaders who are getting disillusioned with their role models.

All stakeholders in this game, by definition, are on the same side.

So, whether it is the ‘treacherous’ politicians; the ‘Machiavellian’ bureaucrats; the ‘arrogant’ policemen; the ‘indifferent’ bean counters or the ‘unreasonable’ ex-servicemen

— they are all citizens of this country who will pay a heavy price if the fibre of our apolitical armed forces unravels. And it is unravelling.

Social media is rife with serious dissent among ex-servicemen and, more alarmingly, serving soldiers and officers. Conversations bordering on sedition are creeping into discussion threads. Junior officers are openly questioning the spine and integrity of their seniors. Soldiers from serving units are contributing monies to fund the One Rank One Pension (OROP) agitation, albeit in their personal capacities.

Sane voices who dissuade such collection are countered by those who challenge the basis on which Chiefs regularly contribute a day’s salary of the entire Army to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund without the consent of their soldiers. Such open discussions — which just a decade ago would have amounted to heresy — constitute a grave development and provide a fertile ground for elements inimical to India.

It is critical to step back and look at the big picture. The fact that the OROP issue had been relegated to files for far too long is obvious from the critical mass of the problem and the indignation of the aggrieved. The fact that a former Chief chose to withdraw as an interlocutor underscores the divide and truculence of both sides. But it behoves the leaders of our Government, bureaucracy and most importantly the Defence Forces, both serving and retired, to realise that this impasse cannot be resolved in a combative manner. This is because, on one side you have the Indian armed forces,

who have never learnt to take defeat regardless of the casualties suffered,

and we should be thankful for that.

Any result short of a victory will demoralise one of the finest armies of the world.

However, on the other hand, if the demands of OROP are achieved through bellicose means, what kind of armed forces would we leave as a legacy?

One that fights its own government to get its due?

Where does the story end?

What prevents this pyrrhic victory from becoming a new

‘DOCTRINE OF BELLIGERENCE '

that the armed forces use to press their demands in future? And what example will they set for their junior officers, struggling to keep their troops motivated?

The resolution to OROP doesn’t have to consist of a single silver bullet. Solutions can be a combination of the private sector stepping in with post-retirement options; the clustering of ex-servicemen into categories and re-skilling and funding them for entrepreneurship; and a slew of other measures to ensure the dignity and livelihood of our ex-servicemen.

We can achieve this outcome provided we comprehend that this is not just a dispute between ex-servicemen and the government. It is a national security issue where every citizen needs to pitch in. Because, if war is too serious a business to be left to generals, nation-building is too serious a process to be left to the politicians and bureaucrats.

(The author is a former Army officer and founding CEO, NATGRID.)

COMMENTS

BHART

Armed forces are demanding their right. And government should resolve this matter as fast as it can do.Indian democracy is surviving because our army is most disciplined and satisfied (despite having lots of problems) otherwise we have many examples of armed ruling across the world. Once become rebellious it will be difficult to make it as disciplined as it is now.

V Vyjayanthi

The government should reach out to the ex servicemen who had served their country and explain the administrative, legal and financial dimensions in implementing the OROP as per their demands. The government pays military pensions for a longer period as 80% of the forces retire at 35-40 yrs. Various political leaderships who had committed to OROP have done so without considering the nuances of its implementation - the ex servicemen were superb vote banks to be exploited. Once in power they conveniently forget about the various issues of retired servicemen and war widows. If finance is the problem then governments can look for other avenues to raise pension funds. Wasteful government expenditures can be cut. Scamsters and money launderers can be brought to book & the swindled money put to good use. Laterally induction of fit personnel into paramilitary forces can save pensions. The threat to boycott the 1965 war celebrations and the RD parade by the veterans is also uncalled for.

RS R S

Almost every post in media is written by the officers and centres only around the Commissioned Officers to show them the most deprived people though every Officer gets around 45,000/- (Minimum of Major in 2015 including DA) in his monthly pension. None of these learned writers includes the Jawans and their widows, either in any Pay/pension related topic or in his comments. Only Jawans (Junior Commissioned Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Sepoy) retire (or are kicked out) between the age of 35 to 40 years and live in inexplicably harsher conditions than the Officers during service.

Patriot Down Voted

S Sekhar

Dear Sir, 1.This article is among the very best written on this subject.(Disclosure, I am a proud veteran) 2.The writer is highlighting the national security issue rightly;we have many second, third generation soldiers in the Armed Forces.Thus, we have Col Pushpinder Singh on fast at Jantar Mantar, and his son as a serving Officer. Can you imagine what is going through his mind and that of thousands of serving soldiers whose fathers, grandfathers are made to go on fasts, agitations for what is their right? And further humiliated by policemen on the eve of Independence day? 3.The real problem is the disconnect of the Armed Forces community with the ruling elite.It is reasonable to assume that if some of our senior politicians, bureaucrats,or their kith and kin served or are serving in the Armed Forces,this issue would not have come to such a pass. The cultivated disdain the elite has for Soldiers coupled with the pettiness of the IAS lobby is a poisoned cocktail. This has to change

M Major

It is evident that Mr Modi's cocktail of nationalism and economic paradise doesn't include the serving soldiers and veterans of the Armed Forces. He wants to continue with his election vote catching mode of governance and back track on his earlier promises on technical basis.

BY Brig YVR

A simple return to pre 3rd pay commission status of the Defence Services will resolve the issue. The defence services have been exploited for too long by the IAS and the civil services and the Government