Dear Members

IESM is emboldened that so many veterans are taking keen interest and giving advise about conduct of Rally on 1 Feb 15 to ensure that it is successful. Please be rest assured that IESM is taking note of all advises and will do what is good for Ex-servicemen in overall context. GB IESM has been chosen by the members to take care of member's interest and please be rest assured that GB members will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that ESM demands are approved by Govt at the earliest. GB IESM is also committed to ensure that Government notification for payment of OROP dues is issued on priority. Having said and confirmed that GB IESM is fully committed to ensure justice for ESM, let me come to the points being discussed on the net.

Why Agitational approach;  Many veterans believed in last 50 years that asking for increase in pay and facilities is below the dignity of Armed Forces. This resulted in down gradation of status of all ranks of Armed Forces viz a  viz civil structure. In pay commission after pay commission status of Armed Forces was systematically brought down viz a viz civil structure. This was first resented by men in uniform and ex-servicemen in 2008. Ex-servicemen got together and decided to form IESM in 2008. IESM then took a considered decision that Government in India does not pay attention to any group unless the group goes on agitations. ESMs will agree that a decision taken by IESM in 2008 has turned out to be well thought of and good approach to present problems of Ex-servicemen to the Govt and to get the OROP approved. IESM was heavily criticized at that time by many senior veterans, IESM did not deter. IESM approach has paid dividend and today our cherished dream of OROP stands approved. It took medal returns, submission of memorandums signed in own blood and many rallies to wake up the conscious of citizen and politicians to get OROP approved. 

Undue delay in issuance of OROP notification;  OROP has been approved by two Parliaments, Commitment of two PM, present PM Mr Modi at Siachin and on a Navy frigate has announced loud and clear that OROP is his personal commitment to Armed Forces, Passing of OROP in two budget. But even after seven months of approval, OROP notification has not been issued. IESM has written numerous letters  to Government but there was no reply from the Govt, not even an acknowledgement. On the contrary some negative statements were deliberately leaked by Govt circles to test the reaction of ESM and ESM organisations. Confronted by wall of silence by the Govt, IESM decided to resume agitation mode and announced relay hunger strike from 3 Dec to 16 Dec, with a rally on 7 Dec and return of another tranche of medals. Immediately on announcement of agitation there were murmurs in the ESM circles and all those ESM who were silent all these months, and did not ask a question on delay in OROP notification, suddenly became active and started advising IESM to cancel/ go slow on agitation approach. IESM agreed to defer the agitation on personal intervention by sh Rajeev Chandrashekhar (sympathizer of ex-servicemen) only after he promised to arrange a meeting with the Honorable RM. Details of IESM delegation meeting have already been sent to environment. Despite the promise of RM there was no news from MOD/DESW about the early issuance of notification, on the contrary some negative statements came out of RM/MOD. IESM thought that these are incorrect reporting by the media/newspaper. IESM asked for clarification but none came. On the contrary unconfirmed messages were received that MOD/CGDA/DESW combine are exaggerating the expenditure of OROP and are making all out attempt to dilute the OROP ( Now they are attempting dilution when they realized the Govt is now committed to give OROP and they can not stop it any further).

Holding of Rally on 1 Feb 15;  On getting the news that there is an attempt to dilute OROP definion and on getting no clarification from MOD, GB IESM decided to hold a rally on 1st Feb 2015 Sunday to remind and request the Government about their commitment to Ex-servicemen and nation. IESM is very clear in its thought process that IESM wishes to remind the Government of its commitment and does not wish to have confrontation with the Govt. IESM is of firm opinion that the Govt will live upto its promise and manifesto. However the question why is the Govt is taking unduly long time to overcome bureaucratic politics is bothering IESM? Hence IESM planned this rally and demonstration. IESM condemns misinformation campaign undertaken about the purpose of rally by few veterans. This misinformation campaign is being initiated by few politically inclined veterans. IESM is not aligned to any Party and is not involved in party politics. Some veterans who fought the last election and miserably lost are the leader in this misinformation campaign.

Reasons and Effects of the Rally; Few veterans have been expressing that this rally may annoy Government and Government may refuse to give OROP. IESM firmly believes that this Government is committed to OROP and will definitely honor its commitment to Armed Forces and ESM. However ESM are exasperated to wait for more than 8 months to get OROP and do not understand the compulsion of Government of this undue delay (In-fact the letter should have been out and payments of OROP should have been in our banks latest by Oct 14, but it did not happen). IESM has done brain storming and have decided to go ahead with the rally on 1 Feb 2015 Sunday at Jantar Mantar new Delhi  because of following reasons.

1. IESM wishes to only remind the Govt of its commitments to Armed Forces and ESM.
2. IESM wishes to request the Govt to overcome the bureaucratic pressure and release full OROP as approved by the Parliament at the earliest. Let this be a Republic day gift to Armed Forces. 
3. IESM confirms that IESM will accept the DGL sent by the Armed Forces Hq to Govt for approval as full and final OROP.
4. IESM is unable to understand any logic of this undue delay in issuance of Govt letter for OROP.
5. IESM is apprehensive that Government may come under bureaucratic pressure and may not issue full OROP
6. IESM will not accept any dilution of the OROP definition.

Preparation  for rally; IESM is thankful to members who have wished good luck and advised to be prepared for rally. Ground work for the rally has been done and IESM expects veterans to attend the rally from 10 states. Telephone of GB members is constantly ringing confirming support for the rally and confirming that ESM will come from all states. A very large number of Ex-servicemen and sympathizer are expected to attend the rally. IESM has also instructed its state conveners to hold meetings and pass a resolution for full OROP. IESM members in state capitals/Dist level have been advised to go to Governer/CM/DC and hand over the memorandum to be sent onwards to President and PM of the India. The memorandum will be signed by lacs of members to convey our exasperation on this undue delay by the Government for issuance of notification for OROP. The meeting to be held in Secunderabad is part of that plan and some of the members of GB are expected to attend the meeting. This should not be seen otherwise on the contrary this meeting is planned accordingly.  

However some well meaning veterans have been asking question what if Govt refuses to issue the full OROP. Dear Veterans IESM is sure that MODI Govt will definitely fulfill its promise given to Armed Forces and ESM. IESM has full faith in promises made by Sh Narendra Modi honorable Prime Minister of India and there will be no need to plan further action. However GB IESM has plans ready in case of any exigency. IESM HAS SELECTED THE AIM AND IS DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE IT. 

IESM REQUESTS ALL ESM TO COME TO JANTAR MANTAR AT 1030H ON 1 FEB 2015 SUNDAY AND BE COUNTED IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR OROP. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO GOVT THAT ESMs ARE AWAKE NOW AND WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE DOWN-GRADATION IN THEIR STATUS. OROP IS OUR RIGHT AND WE WILL TAKE IT. 

DEAR VETERANS RALLYS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE EVENTS AND LARGE FUNDS ARE REQUIRED TO ARRANGE A RALLY. IESM REQUESTS VETERANS TO CONTRIBUTE FUND TO OFFSET THE EXPENDITURE ON THE RALLY. 

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE FUNDS LARGE HEARTEDLY FOR SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THE RALLY PLANNED FOR 1 FEB 2015 SUNDAY AT 1030H AT JANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI.

ALL VETERANS MUST COME AND PARTICIPATE TO MOUNT UNBEARABLE PRESSURE ON THE GOVT. 

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION WHAT IF GOVERNMENT ISSUES THE GOVERNMENT LETTER FOR PAYMENT OF OROP DUES TO ESM BY 26 JAN AS REQUESTED BY IESM.

DEAR VETERANS RALLY WILL STILL BE HELD AS PLANNED ON 1 FEB 2015 AND IESM WILL PROFUSELY THANK MODI GOVERNMENT FOR LIVING TO ITS PROMISE AND HONORING THE 30 YR OLD DEMAND OF ESM AND ARMED FORCES. IESM WILL REQUEST GOVT TO HONOR OUR OTHER DEMANDS ALSO.

LAST WORD FOR ESM. COME ONE AND COME ALL AT 1030H ON 1 FEB 2015 SUNDAY AT JANTAR MANTAR FOR ESM RALLY AND BE COUNTED, COME WHAT MAY.  

IESM REQUESTS ALL VETERANS NOT ISSUE ANY MORE STATEMENTS FOR CANCELLATION/DEFERMENT OF RALLY. VETERANS ARE ALSO REQUESTED NOT TO BE MISLEAD BY SUCH CALLS AND COME AND ATTEND THE RALLY IN LARGE NUMBERS.

 Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM