Dear veterans,
DETAILS OF BANGALORE RALLY
Ex-Sgt M Prabhakaran Reports from Bangalore
Ex-servicemen staging a protest in front of Town Hall demanding implementation of the one-rank-one-pension scheme on Sunday |
In
continuation of its protest RHS by volunteers of UFESM at Jantar Mantar
entered its thirty fifth day today. With simultaneous hunger strikes
being undertaken from across the country. Today volunteers had come from
Poonch & Jammu J&K leaving behind terror stricken families due
to the situation on the LOC. A 35 member delegation too came from
Chandigarh under Brigadier Khosa. Sitting on the RHS were a total of 75
volunteers with 13 officers. A large contingent from the Sikh Regiment
was representative of the increasing participation.
The
generous contribution to the cause both in cash and kind, e.g. supply
of breakfast and drinking water and the steady stream of volunteers on a
daily basis continues to ensure that the protest is here for a very
long time indeed. Notwithstanding appreciations being made by certain
agencies hovering around the area of protest as also failed efforts by a
certain section of individuals to somehow get this called off including
illegally and in connivance of lowly placed officials of sealing the
only operative bank account for management of funds.
In
furtherance of the decision taken by the "Advisory Committee" of UFESM,
as also announced at the press conference of 14 Jul the extended
deadline to the Government ends on 22 Jul. In view of which the next
step towards escalation will commence on 23 Jul. The details of the same
will be communicated before that.
A
Kargil Vijay Diwas Run for OROP is being planned to be undertaken on 26
Jul, with Blade Runner Maj DP Singh, in the lead and the event to be
graced by Hav Anna Hazare. Details of the event will be communicated by
all means for greater participation by society to show solidarity with
the veterans.
Col Anil Kaul, VrC
Media Advisor
DETAILS OF BANGALORE RALLY
Ex-Sgt M Prabhakaran Reports from Bangalore
Ex-servicemen staging a protest in front of Town Hall demanding implementation of the one-rank-one-pension scheme on Sunday |
The
second rally of Bangalore veterans in demand of immediate
implementation of OROP and in support of the ongoing agitation at Jantar
Mandir commenced sharp at
10 am today, infront of the imposing Bangalore Town Hall. More than 1500 veterans and about 25 ladies and widows were in attendance holding placards like, " We seek justice; we demand OROP."
10 am today, infront of the imposing Bangalore Town Hall. More than 1500 veterans and about 25 ladies and widows were in attendance holding placards like, " We seek justice; we demand OROP."
The full contingent of
both print and visual media of Bangalore were present to cover the
rally. Thanks to the press meet that we held on 17th at Bangalore press
club.
Lt. Gen. Ravindranath
(Retd) GOC-IN-C, Eastern Army Command, Air Marshal. KA Lewis, AVM PK
Murali, Lt. Gen. PG Kamath and Sgt. M.Prabhakaran addressed the rally.
All the speakers expressed their support and solidarity with all
veterans who are on continuous agitation from 14th June 2015 onwards at
Jantar Mandir, Delhi.
All speakers invariably talked in terms of escalating the
agitation. There was a demand for resorting to direct action like Rail,
Road and Goods roko. The intention and commitment of our political class
was questioned.
I on behalf of AFVAI have raised the following points in my address:-
1. We must involve civil society leaders and general public in support of our demand for OROP and our agitation;
2. We should condemn people like Sunil Jain, who wrote an insensitive article against grant of OROP for XSM.
3. The current PM who was then the CM Gujarat , despatched a team of Gujarat police without even getting the permission of Karnataka government simply because of a request from an young Gujarati woman from Bengaluru. But he has no courtesy or time to visit or depute his DM to meet that innocent looking young widow whose husband Sepoy Hemraj was slain by Pakistanis, when she was sitting on hunger strike at JM in demand of OROP.
4. We must work towards publishing full page ad in all leading newspapers of this country by mobilizing funds from XSM in order to enlist the support of general public.
2. We should condemn people like Sunil Jain, who wrote an insensitive article against grant of OROP for XSM.
3. The current PM who was then the CM Gujarat , despatched a team of Gujarat police without even getting the permission of Karnataka government simply because of a request from an young Gujarati woman from Bengaluru. But he has no courtesy or time to visit or depute his DM to meet that innocent looking young widow whose husband Sepoy Hemraj was slain by Pakistanis, when she was sitting on hunger strike at JM in demand of OROP.
4. We must work towards publishing full page ad in all leading newspapers of this country by mobilizing funds from XSM in order to enlist the support of general public.
The speech was well received by the participants of the
rally. We could also collect about Rs.70000/- during the rally to meet
the expenditure.
The rally was quite impressive and we hope that the noise
made in Bangalore rally will be heard in the corridors of power at New
Delhi and move this unrelenting government to issue OROP orders without
any further delay.
Jai Jawan! Long live AFVAI!!
Jai Jawan! Long live AFVAI!!
Sgt. M PRABHAKARAN
Bangalore.
Dear Veterans,
UFESM announces the conduct of the "KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS RUN FOR OROP" as our way of celebrating this day by veterans and civil society alike on 26 July 2015. It will also be STEP 1 in the escalation of the on going protest.
Bangalore.
Dear Veterans,
UFESM announces the conduct of the "KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS RUN FOR OROP" as our way of celebrating this day by veterans and civil society alike on 26 July 2015. It will also be STEP 1 in the escalation of the on going protest.
The run will commence at 5.45 AM from DSOI DHAULA KUAN and terminate at Jantar Mantar venue of the relay hunger strike by ESM. (Participants to assemble by 5.00 AM).
Route.
: - DSOI DK-11 MURTI- 3 MURTI - TEEN MURTI MARG- AKBAR ROAD- ef-
RAJPATH- INDIA GATE (AMAR JAWAN JYOTI) -RAJEEV CHOWK- JANTAR MANTAR rhs
site.
The run will
be led by The Indian Army Blade Runner "Maj DP Singh" a veteran himself
in his own right. Permission and security will be provided by Delhi
Police along the route. Refreshments and medical aid is being catered
for. All participants will be given commemorative t-shirts and caps on a
first come-first served basis. internal administrative instructions
will be issued seperately.
UFESM
would like to request all segments of civil society as also media
houses to propogate this message and join the veterans in a show of
solidarity by participating and covering the event in large numbers,
Especially as a homage for those who gave their today for our tomorrow.
Notwithstanding
the above RHS continues. Over 35 volunteers observed hunger strike, A
spectator number of 200 were present. Effigies of the PM were burnt in
Ambala and police did not allow ESM to accost Mr Nitin Gadkari with
Black flags at Ambala.
It is reliablely learnt that 45 MP's led by Mr Dereck O'Brien would visit RHS at JM tomorrow 21 Jul 2015.
Col Anil Kaul, VrC
Media Advisor
UFESM
It is not the noise made at rally. It is the bugle sounded at the rally will be heard in Delhi.
ReplyDeleteMr Modi is running the government in an artificially simulated mode. He wants to see what he wants, he wants to do what he believes to be correct without going on to ground realities. He is totally ignoring the "Kisans and the Jawans." On two counts he proved to be of this grave fault. In his monthly radio talk a month and odd back Mr Modi told the Nation that there are four years more for the OROP come into effect, and the other day a BJP spokes person confirmed this again on a TV talk in the NDTV. Does the government realise that OROP is being asked not for normal healthy youth who got whole life before them to wait, but for many senior citizens who served the Nation honourably and who are in their last days of their life? The struggle is 40 years old and that doesn't mean we will wait for another 40 years to come to attain the OROP. Statesmanship if it is there in him, Mr Modi will come with a concrete decision to implement OROP as per the universally accepted definition forthwith. If he gives OROP on orders of the Supreme Court or the Parliamentary Committee, then the credit will not go either to his government or the BJP which came into power on an election promise to implement OROP. The OROP is our right and is inevitable aspect, if given gracefully forthwith, he can avoid ignominy; otherwise he will be remembered in the history of this country for wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteThe arrogance and indifference with which Modi govt is responding to Demand for OROP is another insult to injury to the entire ESM community and We must react adequately and effectively. We all r solidly behind UFESM and will participate in any form of agitation in the coming days.
ReplyDelete"Mr Modi, a stitch in time saves nine." Act now on OROP.
ReplyDeleteMr Modi, we never asked for a running commentary on OROP (words from your mann ki baat), All the ESM wanted was a dateline for your action on OROP. You are good in giving marathon lectures without thinking, but after all these days of your team's 'manthan' on OROP, now at least must have arrived at the end result. The COAS, the Defence Minister had to lie to the ESM too often just because of your inaction. This doesn't suit well to a leader at the helm of a so called working government.
ReplyDeleteWe had a PM who said nothing and did nothing. Now,we have a PM who says something and does something else !!!
ReplyDeleteThe bureaucrats of Finance Ministry are of the opinion that as Armed Force's personnel retire at an early age, they draw the pensions for much longer periods and thus OROP may result into swelling of the Defence budget. True the ratio of ESM is 1.7:1 and the civilians, that is the result of keeping the fighting forces young and fit for battle with efficiency, where as the old, inefficient and crippled can work in the civilian sector of the government. This is a price to pay by the government to the Services to ensure effective National security. The civil-military balance is essential to India’s defence philosophy and this is totally absent in the present scenario, political control of the defence forces has actually turned into the bureaucratic control. These bureaucrats are against the ESM's rightful OROP demand and this must be condemned by the Nation vehemently in one voice. The ESM are “deeply hurt” by the delay in the implementation of OROP Scheme in spite of the election promises made by BJP, if the government really cares about the Nation's war heroes and Vir Naaris. The OROP Scheme must be put in place by the government before celebrating those victory ceremonies planned to self glorify themselves. It will be a debacle unheard of in the world's history to celebrate these victories without those 70-80% of the ESM who participated in those wars. Is there nobody to empathise with the senior Veterans of the Nation who are driven to streets in protest for the last 36 days? Before this dissatisfaction percolates into the rank and file of the in-service Armed Forces Personnel, it is better for the government and the bureaucrats to wake up to reality. It is always better to correct this much delayed matter of National security which might end unpalatable results. Incidentally most of our neighbouring Armed Forces enjoy this OROP and is a slap on our government's face.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteModi govt will never implement OROP unless forced to, for the simple reason that he lacks that statesmanship and courage to reign in the bureaucracy and implement OROP. The" complexities" is a worn out term which our inept politicians use liberally with out any qualms.
ReplyDeleteAnother planted News/rumour? The News says that a senior government official said the announcement on OROP for defence personnel might deal with concrete steps that the government might take in rolling out the programme in a time-bound manner. (Note the ambiguity again) Various departments of the government are engaged in ironing out the kinks and working on the timetable of implementing the very ambitious, and prohibitively expensive, pension scheme. The wording in this News is again wrong. No accountant can estimate the cost of National security secured by the ESM while performing their duty and retreated into early retirement. No amount paid to the veterans is prohibitively expensive. If the story of ironing out kinks means rightfully rewarding the Viceroy Commissioned Officers and the jawans, we welcome it, but not any dilution to the universally accepted definition of OROP. If they are worried about paying pension for next 50-55 years, we are extremely sorry that our seniors who kindled this fight for OROP forty years back are not to enjoy the fruits of their bold fight.
ReplyDeleteYet another planted news/rumour? Read at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/status-of-implementation-of-orop-115072100485_1.html
The govt will not take any action till the rail roko programme will be chackef out till the orop not issued
ReplyDelete