From: Kameshwar Pandey pandeykameshwar@gmail.com
Subject: My answers to some common questions
Date: Monday, 4 May, 2009, 9:15 PM
Dear Brig. Kamboj:
This is with reference to the emails sent by some of our fellow veterans Raman, Navel Sailor, Ex Sgt Sunil Rao and many other PBORs not connected to the Internet and the ‘Report My Signal’ Blog. All of us have points to raise, similar to the ones raised by Ex. Sgt Sunil Rao.
During our hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, veterans from all parts of the country exchanged their views and held similar opinions. Many time’s veterans used to have long and animated discussions about the results of similar movements in the past. Although our chairman has throughout been very clear, and has always assured all of us, that we will accept nothing less than OROP for all veterans. Officers, JCOs and Ors - all ranks, all arms. The chairman has also agreed to discuss the points raised by Sgt Sunil Rao in the core group meeting.
I remember an incident that took place on 8th Feb 09 (the Black Day in the history of the Indian Military when we deposited our medals to the President of India). That day I asked a similar question to our respected chairman, Gen Raj Kadyan, “Sir, will you see this mission through, continue to fight till we win, or will you leave us with our problem somewhere midway?” This was not just my question. It is a question that thousands of ESM were visiting Jantar Mantar daily wanted to ask. The past has made many of us bitter and for good reason. So in response to my question Gen Kadyan said “Do you think I will do it?” Now I too have a long service and life experience in that one statement I got my answer. Seeing the body language, the dedication and the love was coming out from the General’s eyes, I felt ashamed of the question I had just asked. I communicate frequently with our leadership and I can tell everyone who is reading this that there are hundreds of reasons why we can and must put one hundred percent faith in Gen Kadyan and all of the IESM leadership.
If any emoluments are extended by the government besides OROP to any segment of the Ex Servicemen group, we all must celebrate irrespective of the rank. At the same time, the question arises that all these benefits being announced by the government during the period of the movement seem to be the part of a well planed effort to DIVIDE the IESM into officers and PBOR. In my opinion the babus and the politicians have already divided the country in the name of cast, religion, state, rich poor and this list is endless. They now want to play the same dirty game of divide and rule with Ex Servicemen also. A game they learnt from the Britishers and a game they have mastered. So we need to be very careful here.
When I was in service, I remember one briefing by my commandant about the future plan of action. He conveyed us that a sepoy plans for a day, a Nk plans for a week, a Hawaldar plans for a month, JCOs plan for a year, Company Commander Plans for three years and so on. SThe General plans for the national security (both external and internal) and the community of the service personals, retired, their families, children’s education and everything else for 20 years and beyond. Now I wonder if the same is still being followed by the Indian military. Whatever is being done to the ESM today is the result of the degradation of thoughts of those who are calling the shots and thus the future plans they make and propose are doomed to bring unhappiness and dissatisfaction to all those who are affected. If a serving General thinks only for his own tenure and for his own personal wellbeing, this is a rather alarming situation for the Indian military forces as well the nation itself.
Many highly respected retired Generals have written articles and letters to serving Generals, some of lines which I will quote:
(a) Letter to Gen Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, SM, VSM., ADC Written by Maj Gen Surjit Singh, AVSM,VSM (Retired) “YOUR EERIE SILENCE IS DEAFENING”
“I am sanguine that as the incumbent Army Chief, you would like to be remembered as a bystander in this `battle royal’. And if, on the other hand, you believe that we the veterans crossed the Laxman Rekha, than we must be told so, but with good reason.”
(b) Letter to CAS, CNS and COAS – OPEN LETTER by Vice Admiral Harinder Singh, PVSM AVSM (Retired)
“When, I chanced to meet you and brought up the subject of my letter and OROP in the evening of 18th Mar 09, I was hurt, but not surprised that you had not cared to read my letter or taken the trouble to be briefed or become aware of the case or contents of the Judgment, The Court judgment has important ramification for the millions of Veterans, both PBOR and officers. I was even more concerned that the welfare of the juniors and those without a voice had taken a back seat in the mind of a service chief much against the ethos of the services where we took pride in the welfare of our juniors. The perception among the retired community is that not one Chief has raised his voice in support of Pension Parity for the Veterans and I doubt even if one Chief has raised the issue of non compliance by the MOD of the judicial ruling in the Maj Generals case. It is events like these that caused an eruption in your service consequent to 5th PC. Such callous attitude certainly led to the recent events in Bangladesh.”
(c) THE BIG FIGHT IS FOR IZZAT: An Article written by Maj Gen Surjit Singh
“The Danger of Letting the Pot Boil Over
It is evident this problem is not going to blow over in a hurry. Those who are trying to brush it under the carpet are leading the nation to grave risk. At the moment, the situation is confined to an untidy looking tent in Jantar Mantar, but if the splinters of this fire fly out, any of the following can happen:
· Attractiveness of military service may plummet from its already abysmally low level. Who would like to become an officer or strive to rise in the system where generals and colonels are treated in this shabby manner?
· If, the sympathy wave travels to the South Block, the civil military relations may reach a flash point, and the consequences can be disastrous.
· And indeed, if a few hot heads boil over, the nation may have to pay a very heavy price. Soldiers are trained to handle weapons and destroy infrastructure. I shudder to think beyond this point.”
Now all that said and done, the following are my final concluding points and requests to the Chairman IESM:
1. Organizations founded for the welfare of ESM like the Ex Servicemen League, Kendriya Sainik Board and Serving Soldiers Board have failed the very purpose of their existence.
2. This has happened because those running these organizations have started eating out of the government’s hands and to make matters worse, they have started treating these organizations as something that the own personally.
3. IESM, in my humble opinion, must make an effort, a strong one at that, to get rid of the people filling holding these appointments (and making a mess of the entire organization) and to replace these people with those who are really devoted to the cause of the ESM, who can understand and appreciate the reason why these bodies were founded.
4. Many states like Punjab have been exemplary in this regard where these organizations still perform the duties they are supposed to.
5. And while I am not sure how this can be implemented but I also know that one tends to find what one starts looking for.
6. And finally, a little off-topic, the latest announcement by the Prime Minister regarding setting up yet another ‘committee’ for ‘analyzing’ OROP! This is the funniest announcement of the century!
This has just further reinforced my faith in the advisory issued in favor of supporting BJP led NDA government.
I thank you all for taking the time to read this rather long message.
Yours truly,
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony Lt (Retd.)
