Dear Veterans,
Some time back, the Chairman IESM issued an advisory, requesting not only the members of IESM but also the entire ESM community, to vote for BJP. Initially, the advisory was to give first preference to any ESM candidate, if both ESM & BJP candidates are in the fray. Now the tone has entirely changed to some sort of a dictate, to cast our votes ONLY for the BJP. In addition, an appeal has also been made to ESM to volunteer their services to the BJP candidates, stating that the Party would look after the admin support of such volunteers.
The reason given for our support to the BJP is that, our demand of OROP has been included in its Election Manifesto. The fact that the CPM has also included this demand in its election manifesto, has been glossed over not only in our blogs but also in the much publicised Karan Thapar's TV show, in which both the generals representing us expressed ignorance over the issue. This aspect was immediately brought to the notice of all of us by Col Chakravarthy from Chennai, in his splendid commentary on the interview. If we preach that we should vote only the Political Party that supports our claims, then the advisory should have been for CPM also. But we see the Communists as RED & dangerous. But the milder version of Red in SAFFRON, as safe.
On top of this the authoritarian dictate stating that any ESM voting or canvassing for any other Political Party should be ridiculed as working against the interest of the ESM. As the Convener of Tamilnadu State IESM, I clarify the following points to all the members of IESM.
1. The Honour, Safety & Well being of our Country comes first, always & everywhere.
2. Our own demands & claims comes next, always & every where.
Please treat the Advisory as just that. Do exercise your franchise as your solemn duty. Vote for the BEST candidate or the BEST party as per your judgement, comprehension & conscience. Please do not vote for criminals belonging to any party.
Brig Kamboj's apology has come too late to control the damage that has already been caused, not because of his intemperate out burst in the blog, but more due to the Silence of the Leaders of the IESM Movement, who have failed to immediately issue a clarification.
With Best Wishes,
Veteran Raman
