Attempt to Create Disunity Among Veterans by AIEWA Chairman Col Inderjeet Singh

ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Our Mail IDs - aiewaorg@gmail.com,aiewa81@hotmail.com

aiewa_association@rediffmail.com
Web site : www.aiewa.org
Blog : aiewa.blogspot.in

(We Were THIRTY YEARS YOUNG On 21 Nov 2011)

M 35 Palika Bhawan,
RK Puram, Sector 13,
New Delhi 110066.

Ph :011 26110710
Fax :011 241O6144

Dear Friends

To begin with I apologize for taking so long in replying to the most blasphemous mail received by me. My laptop packed up and being a novice I could not operate any other. Please forgive me for this.

Petty Politicians

I have been accused of creating disunity by friends who were responsible for destroying all efforts to bring about unity. From day one, they started their outfit only to fulfill their political ambitions. The only stumbling block they found was me and our Association.. They first tried to persuade me into falling in line. When that did not work because I refused to follow their political agenda, they threatened me with dire consequences if I did not toe their line. When that did not deter me from putting across the facts, they even resorted to filthy abuses. Yes it is filthy abuses. I only prayed to the Almighty to forgive them "for they know not". These so called gentlemen can even go to that level. Rather than deter me they only confirmed of being third rate politicians who would resort to literally anything to achieve their political designs. 

Defaming and Demeaning

This also failed, then they resorted to defaming and demeaning me. Their coterie of "you scratch my back and I your Club" think tank, led by Col Rajan, first called me a fraud. I did not consider it worthwhile answering the charge, for I was sure Veterans would understand. Then they fielded a very senior officer to drive home their point. When he was given the facts he quickly scurried for cover. The next they fielded an erstwhile Director General Resettlement (DGR) to expose me, hoping that he would carry more conviction having headed the DGR. When he was also appropriately replied he too ran for cover and has not been heard thereafter, despite my invitation to come and know more about us.

Destroying Unity! Who?

With all the plans of the coterie of their think tank going unstuck, they have come out with the latest charge of destroying unity.

First it would be appropriate to ask this coterie as to what they mean by unity. Gentlemen what I have understood from their past performance is that everybody else should pack up and merge with them and make them the soul voice of veterans so that their coterie can achieve their political designs and ambitions unhindered. Can you sacrifice your cause for the political ambitions of a few? If so then go ahead and be with them. If you stand for the good of all then think before you take a plunge.

Before you however do that please go through the following extract of my mail to Gen Satbir and Gen Bahri to know how these Messiahs of unity literally butchered the real unity effort taken by me after you all literally forced me to take the initiative in Oct 2010.

Our Stand Vindicated

Finally the present blasphemous propaganda against me started after I put out my mail before elections about performance of various Govts over the past 33 years. On reading my mail Col Rajan from Bangalore called me a fraud and set about his coterie to expose me. With what is happening about OROP I stand vindicated. A matter that the Parliament had approved can not be implemented even after four months by the Govt. Finding it difficult to face the reality, all of them have gone underground, rather than publicly apologize to a man who over the years had staked even his life for the Veterans.

Conclusion

Friends after they circulated their blasphemous mail against me the right course for me was to proceed against them and make them feel sorry. Fortunately for them, I have no time as they have, for indulging in wasteful activities and therefore avoided doing that. I must however submit that every one has a limit up to which he can ignore, so have I.

With warmest regards

Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh

Chairman
Mob : 09811007629

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

UNITY

Dear Friends

This is not the first time I have been accused of creating disunity amongst Veterans. The Organization which was started with the aim of bringing all Organizations under one flag is being accused of creating disunity. How ironical ? It tickles you further when you see who is accusing.

I took up the initiative to bring about Unity after all of you forced me to do it. Please find below an extract of my mail to Gen Bahri and Gen Satbir which gives out how these Messiahs of unity literally butchered a most sincere effort to bring about unity by me. This mail they did not 

answer.

On the accusation of twisting facts please go through the following mails of Gen Bahri, Gen Satbir, Gp Capt VK Gandhis two mails and mine. You would know who is twisting facts. Me or their coterie?

Warm Regards

Lt Col Inderjit Singh
Chairman
AIEWA

UNITY- MAIL EXTRACT

Now about we speaking in the same voice. In 2010 I had received a lot of mails for initiating the process of unity amongst us all the ESM Orgs. Moved by these sentiments I invited all the orgs for working out a common agenda on 21 Oct 2010, which all can present to the leadership when they get the opportunity to meet them. I had been given time by the RM and I thought if we could work out this common agenda we could all go together and present to the RM on 23 Oct 2010. What you all did to that initiative is given below in brief just to refresh your memory.

THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

1) MOVED BY THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY YOU ALL I TOOK UP THE INITIATIVE TO INVITE ALL ORGANIZATIONS FOR WORKING OUT A JOINT MEMO ON 21 OCT.

2) THE IESM PROMPTLY REJECTED THE INVITATION ON ACCOUNT OF SHORT NOTICE. I THEN SOUGHT FROM THEM THEIR INPUTS SO THAT THESE COULD BE INCORPORATED..BRIG CHANDER KAMBOJH INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE ATTENDING IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

3) SUDDENLY I GOT A MAIL THAT IESM WOULD COME AND GEN SATBIR, BRIG KAMBOJH AND COL JOSHIPURA WOULD ATTEND. THEY INCLUDED BRIG KAMBOJH IN THEIR LIST EVEN THOUGH HE SAID THAT HE WOULD ATTEND IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

4) MEETING WAS HELD AS SCHEDULED. THE DRAFT MEMO PREPARED BY US WAS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL AND LOT OF GOOD SUGGESTIONS WERE GIVEN BY THEM ALL

5) AFTER THE MEETING ALL SUGGESTIONS WERE INCORPORATED AND FRESH DRAFT CIRCULATED TO ALL FOR APPROVAL SO THAT IT COULD BE GIVEN JOINTLY ON 23 OCT TO THE RM. DURING THE MEETING COL JOSHIPURA SHOWED KEENNESS TO ACCOMPANY. THE PERMISSION FOR HIM WAS ACCORDINGLY OBTAINED FROM MOD.

6) ON 22 OCT GOT A MAIL FROM GEN SATBIR THAT THE MEMO SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED YET. IT WAS THEREFORE HELD BACK.

7) ON 23 OCT WHEN COL JOSHIPURA WAS CONTACTED TO COME HE SAID THAT HE WAS TOLD THAT THE IESM HAD NOT YET TAKEN THE DECISION SO HE COULD NOT COME. HE DID NOT GET BACK. OBVIOUSLY THEY DECIDED AGAINST GOING TO THE RM WITH US. BRIG KAMBOJH IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY WENT ALONG.

8) THE ENTIRE INFORMATION ALONG WITH THE LETTERS GIVEN TO THE RM WERE PUT ON THE INTERNET FOR YOU TO KNOW. IN RESPONSE TO THAT MAIL THE IESM SENT A MAIL ASKING EVERYBODY TO COME TO THEM ON 16 NOV FOR WORKING OUT THE COMMON STAND.

By this move you had first stalled the move forward from where we left on 21 Oct and then destroyed the work put in by so many including yourself and your other stalwarts. Having destroyed it then in your desperation to take all the credit you called a meeting for working out a common stand afresh.There was no mention at all of what had already been done on 21 Oct 2010. Had your mail said that we meet to finalize the draft already worked out I would have gladly participated. But NO. Why should you,when you have different agenda. That could happen only if your intentions were honest. Tell me who destroyed the unity of Veterans? You or me?

Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 15:52:46 +0530
Subject: Fwd: Attempt to create disunity among Veterans by AIEWA Chairman Col Inderjeet Singh
From: seekayess@gmail.com
To: 22nda@googlegroups.com; 84thpc24thnav@googlegroups.com; psu-absorbees@googlegroups.com

For your information please!

__________________

Pax Vobis!

CK Sharma

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 'Vinod Gandhi'
Date: 24 July 2014 15:14
Subject: [IESM_Group:862] Attempt to create disunity among Veterans by AIEWA Chairman Col Inderjeet Singh
To:

Dear Veterans

IESM does not react to mails by individuals on issues of OROP and methods followed by various organizations to achieve it as IESM believes in democracy and also believe everyone has a right to his opinion. Chairman AIEWA Col Inderjeet Singh has been fighting battle for OROP since last 25 years and has his own ideas and definition of OROP. His definition/understanding of OROP is at variance with the definition approved by Koshiari Committee. Col Inderjeet Singh has been writing many mails to Government and environment postulating his definition of OROP and criticizing approved definitions of OROP and its implications as understood by veteran’s organizations including IESM. IESM has never replied his mails even though IESM completely disagrees with his definition/understanding of OROP. But in his latest mail (given in line below), on the reaction to the meeting of IESM delegation with Finance Minister Sh Arun Jaitley on 16 July, Col Inderjeet Singh has twisted the report to misguide veterans and malign IESM. He has also named IESM office bearers and made an attempt to malign their image. Hence It has become necessary to clear the misunderstanding created by Col Inderjeet Singh and clean the air at this important juncture of battle for OROP.

IESM is six years old and I have been its Gen Sec for five years. Col Inderjeet Singh, Chairman AIEWA, has been fighting for OROP for last 25 years with NIL achievement. In the last five years of struggle he has written many mails lauding his efforts as to how many times he got us OROP in last 25 years but never got it. It always eluded him and hence veterans were always left high and dry. It will be inappropriate of him to blame IESM for his failures for initial 20 years of his fight for OROP as IESM did not exist in those illustrious 20 years. He has been adversely commenting against IESM regularly, but veterans’ community in its wisdom has always ignored his calls thinking these are rattling of an old worn out man. IESM never commented on his self praise/ failures as IESM always believed in putting up united front rather than create divisions within veterans’ community.

IESM is an organisation in which members of Governing Body believe in each other and decide on a strategy after doing a lot of brain storming. IESM also gets inputs from the grass roots as IESM has 25000 members (in just six years of its existence) from all states of India and many ex-servicemen organisation have joined IESM as associate members. These organisations and 25000 members would not have joined IESM unless they had faith in IESM and its leadership. These inputs are received in periodic meetings of IESM with state conveners/ coordinators and during AGMs. In fact, it will be true to say that IESM's character is pan-India. On the other hand, AIEWA is run by Col Inderjeet Singh and all decisions are taken by Col Inderjeet Singh and few of his friends & followers. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Col Inderjeet Singh, one man army, wants to control future of veterans' community as per his vision of veterans' welfare and his vision of OROP. I am forced to make this impression because Col Inderjeet Singh has been constantly writing against IESM since the time IESM came into existence. Reasons for his antagonism towards IESM are a mystery for veteran community and probably show his desperation because of his failures to get OROP. It seems Col Inderjeet Singh and AIEWA cannot tolerate any other organisation fighting for OROP for the fear that if the other organisation succeeds in getting OROP Col Inderjeet Singh and his tall personality will become irrelevant. Another probable reason of his dislike of other organisations could be that Col Inderjeet Singh thinks that he has a copy-right on fight for OROP. Whereas on the contrary IESM has been always encouraging other organisations to join hands and fight for OROP jointly or individually but fight for OROP. Well, this is the difference between welfare oriented organisation (IESM) which fights for welfare of veterans and personality based organisation (AIEWA) which works to hog laurels for an individual without any positive result.

IESM was formed in 2008 because philosophy followed by existing organisations did not get us OROP in last 25 years. IESM has done a lot of brainstorming and decided to follow a different path (This was decided in the meeting on 13 Aug 2008. This meeting was attended by veterans from all India and the result is that IESM, jointly with the help of other organisations, has been able to get OROP for all veterans, widows and disabled soldiers). Other major demands of veterans have also been accepted by the Govt and will be approved soon whether it is National War Memorial or National Commission for Ex-servicemen. It is because of the policies of IESM (whether it is return of Gallantry medals or submission of memorandums signed in own blood) that two Governments (UPA and NDA Governments) stand committed to OROP. IESM has decided to increase pressure and will keep increasing pressure till all important issues of veterans are suitably addressed to the satisfaction of veteran community. IESM has realized the power of vote and has been communicating to veterans to rise above local issues and fight for the problems ailing to veteran community and fighting for the respect of veterans. If Col Inderjeet Singh does not approve of IESM's philosophy, well then that is his problem: IESM will continue working for welfare of veterans.

Col Inderjeet Singh’s recent mail has convinced veterans that he is not fighting for OROP but for personal laurels. He has questioned the working style of Chairman and Gen Sec in his mail and made some unsavoury remarks. Whereas need of the hour was to show a united face to Govt and increase pressure on the Govt for issuance of Implementation order for OROP. On the other hand he has chosen to create and communicate chinks in veteran unity. His communication gives veterans the impression that AIEWA will readily sacrifice welfare of veterans if it is not achieved through AIEWA. Veterans’ community is bewildered on this attitude.

Coming to IESM's report which was issued after IESM delegation met Finance Minister Sh Arun Jaitley on 16 July 14. This record had been issued after lot of deliberations and to ensure that doors for future dialogue is kept open but while at the same time confirming that IESM is steadfast on definition of OROP and will not accept any dilution in OROP. It has been very clearly and firmly stated by the delegation that there is only one definition of OROP and the rest is only calculations. Yes, honorable FM did attempt to explore our minds (which every Finance Minister will do to save some funds) whether veterans would accept a diluted version of OROP but it was firmly rejected. It has been reported accordingly. My reported version is "End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQ. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL". This is exactly what was discussed there. Whereas Col Inderjeet Singh twisted the sentence to say his quote "The end result is not just NO COMMITMENT on matters put up by them, it is a direction to tone down our demand. Which means only a bureaucratic version of OROP and not the true version of OROP." This is nothing but convoluted version of the original report given with an intention to confuse veterans and to paint IESM in bad light. Col Inderjeet Singh has miserably failed in this as veterans have seen through his machinations to twist facts to serve his ends. He has also gone on to bring in pension of Maj Generals in the discussion whereas IESM never ever discussed pensions of officers. IESM has always put forward the pensions of widows and soldier in every discussion and in every meeting. That is how He twisted the facts and presented them to suit his end. I am happy to say that veterans have seen through his gimmickry and have not reacted to his biased reporting. Veteran community is aware that Col Inderjeet Singh and AIEWA would be ready to water down the definition of OROP like he did 25 years back when he accepted one time increase rather than OROP. Why had he done that, only Col Inderjeeet  Singh, his conscience and his God only knows!

My advise to Col Inderjeet Singh will be to stop punching holes in OROP and its fight. If he must fight then he must join in with others rather than sending messages of disunity among veterans’ community. Another sane advice which veterans have been giving him that there is a time for every individual to retire and they had been hinting that his time to retire from this fight has come. He should accept it gracefully.

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile 09810541222

Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.org

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE GIVE HIM ONE OF YOURS.

From: Inderjit Singh <aiewa81@hotmail.com>
Date: 20 July 2014 19:59
Subject: FW: VETERANS MEETING WITH FINANCE MINISTER
To:  

PLEASE NOTE OUR BLOG "VOICE OF VETERANS" AT aiewa.blogspot.in
HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. PLEASE ALSO LOOK IT UP FOR MORE NEWS. YOU MAY SEND NEWS ITEMS OR WRITE UPS FOR WIDER CIRCULATION

ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Our Mail IDs - aiewaorg@gmail.com,aiewa81@hotmail.com 

aiewa_association@rediffmail.com 
Web site : www.aiewa.org
Blog : aiewa.blogspot.in

(We Were THIRTY YEARS YOUNG On 21 Nov 2011)

M 35 Palika Bhawan, 
RK Puram, Sector 13,
New Delhi 110066.

Ph :011 26110710
Fax :011 241O6144

Dear friends

I am sending you my views on the reecent meeting of IESM with the Finance Minister. It has three trailing mails of the IESM heirarchy as follows:-

a) Gen SK Bahris mail to Chiefs
b( Gp Capt VK Gandhis Mail about the meeting
c) Maj Gen Satbirs mail to Sh Arun Jaitley

Please go through these mails before reading my views.

Warm regards

Sincerely

Lt Col Innderjit Singh
Chairman
Mob : 09811007629

===================

IESM MEETING WITH HON'BLE FM- WHAT? A DISASTER

Dear Friends

On 16 Jul 2014 a delegation of IESM Stalwarts under the leadership of Gen Satbir met Mr Arun Jaitley. The meeting was arranged kind courtesy Gen VK Singh the Hon'ble Minister who also accompanied them. 

The details of the Meeting were truly reflected in a letter by Lt Gen SK Bahri to the Chiefs written on 17 Jul. The letter is given below. 

Then on 18 Jul the IESM very proudly put out a resume of the Meeting written by Gp Capt VK Gandhi their illustrious Gen Secy. This mail is given below for the information of our readers.

An important aspect which is reflected honestly by Gen Bahri and missing from the resume by Gp Capt Gandhis mail I quote below for you to understand the way we are being be fooled by the Netas of this organizations-

"Finally, when we took leave of him, as a parting shot he said that, we should lower our expectations. So the mind of the RM is now known to us. Therefore, unless you three show a united front the ESM, current and future, can keep whistling till they turn blue."

I am sure you would agree with me if I said that this matter should have been made the key note of the mail put out by their Gen Secy.
Obviously they wanted to hide this fact from Veterans lest they lost their already diminishing credibility. Rather than admitting their failure they try to cover it up by the following statement-

"End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL".

The end result is not just NO COMMITMENT on matters put up by them, it is a direction to tone down our demand. Which means only a bureaucratic version of OROP and not the true version of OROP.

Then Gp Capt Gandhi goes on to extoll the Veterans to tighten up their belts to fight a long battle for their izzat and status. Whose status they talk about we all know and stated clearly by Gen Satbir in his follow up letter to the RM. An extract is given below

It is the principle of seniority in Armed Forces which we cherish. As per this principle, a senior rank person should not draw pension/ pay less than rank lower than him. It is a simple principle we need to maintain hence we cannot afford any violation with OROP principle.

By what stretch of imagination would you call OROP the increasing of the pension of a maj gen to go beyond what similar rank is getting now. Please ask the General.

The OROP means he gets the same pension as the current Maj Gen. If that is more than a brigadier, he gets more but if the current maj gen is still getting less he continues to get less. That is OROP. The case of increasing pensions of any rank is a different matter altogether and has to be pursued separately. This is what he has been pursuing as his main agenda and is even doing so at the cost of all else in his present mail. 

Friends what Gen Satbir calls OROP is neither OROP nor the Izzat, what he wants is his pension should be more than brigadier. Who would accept this rubbish? I am sure the Govt knows him well and giving us the treatment we deserve for our tomfoolery.

Finally they in their desperation to hog the limelight did not mention anything about the role of Gen VK Singh our erstwhile Chief and an Hon'ble Minister in the present Govt. Was he the messenger boy or an escort of these VIPs? Please ask the General himself for they may not like to answer.

This was the finest chance to get OROP, with both former and present Govts fully committed. With what they are up to, the sooner they shut their shop the sooner the OROP would be granted. Their tomfoolery has already lost us five years of OROP.

Gen Bahri has very rightly stated that Chiefs should put up a united front or every thing is going to be lost. I agree with him as it is required amongst us veterans even more. I therefore invite you all to our Governing Council Meeting on 12 Aug at Netaji Nagar Community Center New Delhi to work out our stand. If you want to see a little more of us at grass root level come to Vill Kheri Khumar near Jhajhar on 27 July at 1100 hrs. These programs in details will be put out on our blog VOICE OF VETERANS (aiewa.blogspot.in ) shortly.

With warmest regards and best wishes for the resolution of OROP despite our friends.

Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh
Chairman
Mob : 0 9811007629 

 MAJ GEN SATBIR SINGH'S MAIL TO RM 

Sh Arun Jaitley
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi-110011

Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Sh Arun Jaitley,

We are grateful for granting us the meeting with you on 16 July 2014 with regard to issue of Implementation letter for OROP.

Sir, your contention that the gap between the calculations made by the Service HQs and the officials of MoD namely CGDA, PCDA, Secy DESW is very large, due to which there was delay in issuing the Govt Letter; is a serious cause of concern for the Defence Fraternity. Since, there is only ONE Definition of OROP as approved by the Parliament and therefore, there has to be only ONE calculation, irrespective of small or large gap. It is simple Mathematics. As pleaded by us, there cannot be two calculations. These gaps have been designed to find a way to deny full benefit of OROP to ex-servicemen. A point to be noted here is that had OROP been granted 25 years back there would not have been any gap now. Sir, we are not after money and not asking for back dated payment, it is the principle of seniority in Armed Forces which we cherish. As per this principle, a senior rank person should not draw pension/ pay less than rank lower than him. It is a simple principle we need to maintain hence we cannot afford any violation with OROP principle.

Sir, in case X and Y Groups are to be granted OROP as per their respective Groups, the funds required will be 4500 – 5000 Crores, as per calculations correctly carried out by the Service HQs. And in case all Defence Employees are to be granted ‘X’ Group rates of pensions, then the amount required would be 6500-7000 Crores as per the calculation made by PCDA.

The funds required for the two options are not too large for the Nation to pay justified pensions to the Retired Soldiers, who have given their life and comforts of life for national security.

The CGDA/PCDA/DESW should not be allowed to dilute the definition of OROP or coin their own definition or understanding of OROP. Their calculations, based on datum line 01.01.2006 pensions rates, are totally against the approved definition which requires the OROP to be calculated based on the rates of pensions as on 01.04.2014, the date from which OROP has been sanctioned and future enhancements are to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This was duly discussed in the meting chaired by you on 12^th June 2014. The M1 and M2 Models by CGDA, PCDA, and DESW were out-rightly rejected.

Sir, ex-servicemen are fighting for a principle, any dilution of definition of OROP will not be acceptable to the Ex-Servicemen. It has to be full OROP as per the definition already approved by the Parliament.

In view of the foregoing, please expedite issue of Govt Letter for the implementation of OROP as per the DGL prepared by the Service HQs.

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269, 0124-4110570
Email ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

Copy to

========================================================================

GP CAPT VK GANDHI'S MAIL ABOUT THE MEETING

Dear Veterans,

IESM delegation met with FM Sh Arun Jaitley on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation.

1 Maj Gen Satbir Singh Chairman IESM
2 Lt Gen SK Bahiri
3 Gp Capt VK Gandhi Gen Sec IESM
4 Wg Cdr CK Sharma Treasurer IESM
5 Col Handa Diwave
6 Hony Lt K Pandey Mem GB IESM

Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP.

FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. 

The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govt deptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this.

End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL.

IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their belts for another long battle with the Govt for OROP, your Izzat and status.

IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament.

It seems DESW and CGDA have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses. What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile 09810541222

=======================================================================

LT GEN SK BAHRI''S MAIL TO CHIEFS

From: Satish Kumar Bahri <skbahri1@yahoo.com>
To: COAS <sysspcell@gmail.com>; CNS <cns-india@nic.in>; CAS <hawkeye@bol.net.in> 
Sent: Thursday, 17 July 2014 11:07 PM
Subject: OROP AND OTHER PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE SERVICES

Dear Chiefs, 

I do write to you all of and on, and sometimes mark to you my mails to the political bosses, for information. But this time I am writing as an old senior officer who has his ear to the ground listening to the murmurs in the ESM community. Though my hearing may not be that good, you cannot expect any thing better from an alumni of 1st (J) NDA and a gunner to boot, it is still acute enough. This tribe holds the senior officers (Lt Gens & above) including me, responsible for all that ails the three services. Be it lack of equipment, their status or the pay and allowances. So gentlemen, it is time you show some jointmanship and take a stand against a slimy and fickle political system, abetted by a self serving bureaucracy.

I would like to inform you that yesterday, 16 Jul 14, I along with Maj Gen Satbir, IESM and Col Handa, DIWAVE and some others from IESM met the RM on the subject of OROP, due to the kind courtesy of Gen VK Singh. The gist of the meeting was that the RM emphasised that he was-

a) committed to granting OROP, as it has been repeatedly promised by the PM and stated by him in his budget speech.

b) the definition of OROP as stated by Koshiyari Committee is not sacrosanct as politicians are prone to make populist commitments.

c) wanting a definite figure of the financial effect OROP would have. He said that he wants the CGDA and DESW to work out the amount. We offered him the various figures given by different committees and that the maximum amount was in the region of Rs 9,000 crs. When he repeated that the CGDA and DESW will form a committee along with service reps to take on this task, we clearly told him that we had no trust in the desire of the two civilian reps to resolve any matter in favour of soldiers. When we told him that if the pensions are paid as per the accepted definition of OROP for three months the expenditure for the year can be extrapolated. He was not willing to do even that.

Finally, when we took leave of him as a parting shot he said that we should lower our expectations. So the mind of the RM is now known to us. Therefore, unless you three show a united front the ESM, current and future, can keep whistling till they turn blue. Pardon for being presumptuous to suggest that you have to seek an appointment with the PM together and convince him that the money spent on maintaining the morale of the soldiers will be more paying than spending Rs 45,000 crs on a sinking Air India. Otherwise, believe me it will be a repeat of the Thimayya story, of the politicians playing one Chief against the other.

I am also enclosing a note I have sent to the Pay Commission entitled "Armed Forces Of India: A Forgotten Entity" for your information.

With warm regards.


Lt Gen SK Bahri (Retd)
Chairman 
Alliance Of Ex Servicemen Organisations