Some Ex-PMs Compromised Country's Deep Assets on National Security (Plans to send MOD officials to bords for 15 days to sensitize on hardships of Armed Forces - Then may be several files will be cleared fast): Parrikar

Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar on Thursday alleged that some former PMs had compromised the country's "deep assets" on national security but refrained from naming them.

Parrikar said he did not give details about Coast Guard ops involving a boat coming from Pakistan as the "source (of information) might be compromised"."I am not going to disclose names. Many people know" Parrikar said after releasing a special issue of the Hindi weekly Vivek, on national security.

Taunting the Congress for demanding evidence on the recent Coast Guard ops against a Pakistani vessel carrying suspected terrorists, he said, "However, now a days nothing can be said with certainty as Congress spokespersons say good things about Modi Govt." Parrikar said taking a swipe at Janardhan Dwivedi.

Parrikar said there were differing perceptions between India and China on the Line of Actual Control. "We have not taken the issue of border security seriously. Tomorrow if war were to take place and at the same time if there were riots in some parts of the country, it would be difficult (situation)," Parrikar said.

Highlighting the need for media to exercise restraint on sensitive issues like terror attacks, Parrikar compared the TV coverage of recent Paris terror attacks and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks."In Paris, not a single body was shown and not a drop of blood was seen on TV. Contrast this to our live coverage. I 'm not criticising but we should have this sense" he said. Similarly,real reason for what happened after Godhra incident in 2002 was the disturbing photos shown (by media)," Parrikar said.

"Tomorrow somebody may file a PIL complaining that the decibel level of firing on the border exceeds 140 decibels after 10 pm norms and that it disturbs their sleep,"Parrikar said. "Only exception is loud speakers atop certain holy places where nobody objects even if the loudspeakers blare till 1 am” he said.

Parrikar said he plans to send Defence Ministry officials to border for 15 days to sensitize them on hardships faced by armed forces. "Then maybe several files will be cleared fast" the Defence Minister said.

(Source- Vasundhra blog) 

ECONOMIC TIMES - GLOBAL BUSINESS SUMMIT : PRIME MINISTERS INAUGURAL ADDRESS ON 16.1.2015

DEAR ALL,

CLICK HERE TO OPEN   TO VIEW THE PM'S ADDRESS/VIDEO.(e-BOOK)

(SOURCE- NEWSLETTER)

WHY THE DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION OF OROP?

Chairman IESM, Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) writes to Raksha Mantri for Delay in Implementing OROP

Shri Manohar Parrikar

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri

104, South Block

New Delhi-110011

DELAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri

            This has reference to our meeting with you on 09 Dec 2014 and IESM letter dated 02 Jan 2015.

           

            We the ex-servicemen have been waiting for the last 11 months for the implementation of OROP and have been relentlessly projecting to the Govt the need for early action.  You have also consulted other ESM Organisations, the three services HQs and the officials of MoD on this important demand of defence personnel.  However, for the reasons best known to you, the Govt Notification has not yet been issued.  This is a cause of serious concern.

IESM has decided to hold a Rally on 01 Feb 2015 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi to voice our concern to the Govt and also inform to the people of India about the grave injustices perpetuated on the soldiers.  This Rally, in no way, is to confront the Govt but to exercise our right to project our demands and concerns in a democratic setup.  Sir, we have a few questions to be asked from the Govt and these are:-

• Does it take 11 months to issue a letter for a full majority Govt? 

• When the OROP has been accepted in principle by the Govt and necessary funds have been catered for why is this undue suspense and delay in issuance of notification?

• When PM of the nation has confirmed at three different occasions after taking oath as PM and innumerable times during campaigning for elections that OROP is his personal commitment to Armed Forces, why has the notification not been issued?

• Why is MOD resorting to selective leaks to test the reaction of veterans? In fact these leaks are deliberate to test the strength of opposition to dilution of OROP.  Ex-servicemen have been short-changed many times by manipulative bureaucracy and hence are very apprehensive of this unexplainable delay. 

• Why is Government hesitating to commit that OROP letter will be out by so and so date and why is the Govt buying more time? You have now given a time line till 25 July 2015, whereas you informed us on 09 Dec 2014 that the decision will be taken within a month?  

• Why can't Government issue the notification of OROP by 01 Feb 15. What is holding issuance of the notification? All process of consultation and acceptance and approval has been completed.

• Why is the Govt hesitating to  clearly spell out that OROP will be implemented in full and as per the approved definition as given out in Govt Executive Orders dated 26 Feb 2014 and repeated by RRM on 02 Dec 2014 on the floor of the House in Rajya Sabha?

Approved definition of OROP as given by RRM in Parliament is given below:-

Implementation of One Rank One Pension 

            The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government. 

            One Rank One Pension (OROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancement in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. (DM/HH/RAJ, Release ID: 112372).

            Sir, any dilution to the concept and definition of OROP will not be acceptable to the Defence Fraternity.

            Ex-servicemen request the Govt to issue the Implementation Notification of OROP at the earliest please.  IESM will be very happy to thank the Govt during the Rally if the letter is issued before 01 Feb 2015.

  

            With regards

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) 

Chairman IESM

Copy to :-

Shri Rao Inderjit Singh Raksha Rajya Mantri C-1/14 Lodi Garden New Delhi - 110 003 General Dalbir Singh                               PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC           Chief of the Army Staff  Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Army) South Block, New Delhi-110011
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha                                                       PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC                                                                    Chief of the Air Staff & Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee (CoSC),                                   Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Air Force)  Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011
Admiral R K Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM,  ADC                                                                                                     Chief of the Naval Staff                                                              Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Navy)   South Block, New Delhi -110011 (SOURCE- INDIA OF MY DREAMS BLOG)

A few developments and then some....

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

I just thought of updating readers on a few issues.

The current Raksha Mantri has admirably made a statement of ‘not pursuing’ approximately four to five thousand appeals filed by the Ministry of Defence against disabled soldiers. Though the Ministry had no other choice in wake of the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing more than 800 such appeals on 10 December 2014, the move is still welcome and reflects a change for the better in the way political leadership perceives such issues. It remains to be seen however as to how the ensconced mandarins in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) of the Ministry and the Personnel Services Directorate (PS Directorate) of the Army HQ would be tamed. With a sensitive political leadership and a proactive Adjutant General currently in chair, things appear positive.

Mr Derek O’Brien and Ms Smriti Z Irani were two MPs who had shown concern in the Parliament about disabled soldiers and the litigation unleashed on them by the Ministry of Defence and also about the injustice to them even by military medical boards. Mr O’Brien has penned a short opinion on the subject in which he has graciously mentioned Ms Irani too- readers may like to peruse it by clicking here.

Lot of noise has been made with many veterans writing letters to the current Raksha Mantri condemning his move and thought-process of basing OROP on the number of years spent in the retiring rank. This assumption and perception is incorrect and imaginary. As far as I know, there is NO MOVE of calculating OROP based on the length of service in the last rank. What the Minister, and later Col Rathore, were trying to convey was that personnel retiring with similar service in the same rank were today superannuating at varied stages of pay (and hence pension) and efforts were on to harmonize the situation and arrive at a figure of OROP for each rank. Yes, there are elements in the bureaucracy who would not like to see the actual definition of OROP through, but I am sure they are not having such a free run in the current dispensation. The proof of the pudding however, of course, is in the eating. 

ONE RANK ONE PENSION TO BE GIVEN?

GENETICALLY MODIFIED O.R.O.P IS AN ASSURED TERMINAL CANCER FOR MOD - REMEMBER GOD IS ON THE SIDE OF SOLDIERS

     

Dear Members

      IESM is little surprised on the reaction of only few veterans who are propagating against the proposed veterans' Rally on 1 Feb 15. They are also saying that this might annoy the Govt. These fears are all ill founded and not based on any solid inputs. Can anyone tell IESM that 

1. What is the confirmed news with them that the implementation letter would be issued by so and so date?
2. Do they have confirmed news that OROP definition will not be diluted under the pressure of MOD/CGDA. Please remember Veterans have been shortchanged number of times by manipulation by bureaucrats? Attempts are still being made for that and that is the reason of this undue delay.

       It is any body guess as to when and in what form implementation letter will be issued.  IESM had been waiting for last 10 months and had been relentlessly projecting your demands to Govt. IESM has also confirmed that IESM delegation has also given valuable inputs to Defence Minister on 9 Dec 14. In-fact Defence Minister has been consulting many more veterans to clear his thought process.

        IESM confirms that this rally is not to confront Government. In a democratic set up every one has a right to project their demands and ask questions. IESM has been asking questions but did not get any reply. In India Rallys and protest are the best method to project your genuine demands. IESM has called this rally only to ask few questions and these are

1. Does it take 10 months to issue a letter for a full majority Govt? 
2. When the OROP has been accepted in principle by the Govt and necessary funds have been catered for why is this undue suspense and delay in issuance of notification?
3. When PM of the nation has confirmed at three different occasion after taking oath as PM and innumerable times during campaigning for elections that OROP is his personal commitment to Armed Forces, why has the notification not been issued?
4. Why is MOD resorting to selective leaks to test the reaction of veterans? In fact these leaks are deliberate to test the strength of opposition to dilution of OROP. 
5. Why is Government hesitating to commit that OROP letter will be out by so and so date and why is the Govt buying more time? In fact RM has bought time till 25 July 2015, Is this acceptable to veterans? 
6. Why can't Government issue the notification of OROP by 1 Feb 15. What is holding issuance of the notification? All process of consultation and acceptance and approval has been completed.
7. What is stopping Govt to call for a press conference and give a clear statement about OROP?

         There are many more questions to be asked. IESM is sure that OROP can not be cancelled now and NDA Govt is committed to give OROP. What IESM is not sure is will it be full OROP or diluted OROP? IESM has called for this rally only to ask this question and clearly send a message that any dilution in OROP will not be accepted to veterans. 

         IESM is asking one simple question to the veterans, please tell me will you accept diluted OROP? if not then all veterans must join the rally in large numbers. 

         At the end IESM requests veterans who are opposed to the rally that they are free to have their view and are free to not to join the rally if they are not convinced about the utility of the rally. 

        IESM has been getting very encouraging feedback from members from all states to go ahead with the proposed rally on 1 Feb 2015. Veterans from Tamil nadu, Karnataka, Andhra pradesh, Madhya pradesh, Chhatis garh, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have already confirmed their participation in the rally. Ofocurse a large number of veterans from Delhi will be leading the rally.

    IESM HAS ANNOUNCED THE RALLY AT 1030H ON 1 FEB 2015 AT JANTAR MANTAR AFTER TAKING VIEW OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND IT IS A CONSIDERED DECISION OF VETERANS. RALLY WILL DEFINITELY BE HELD AS PLANNED ON 01 FEB 2015 SUNDAY. ALL VETERANS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN IN LARGE NUMBERS AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT ON THIS UNDUE DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF NOTIFICATION.

       IESM IS DEFINITELY NOT WANTING ANY CONFRONTATION WITH THE GOVT BUT IS MAKING A REQUEST TO GOVT TO ISSUE THE NOTIFICATION AT THE EARLIEST. IN-FACT IESM WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO THANK THE GOVERNMENT IF THE LETTER IS TAKEN OUT BY 1FEB 2015.

AMEN

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
Block N5, Flat no 801, Narmada Block

Pocket D6, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi. 110070
Mobile   09810541222

(SOURCE- VASUNDHRA BLOG)

Donation Without Consent Leaves Army Offices Fuming Against Chief

NEW DELHI: Forced charity can pinch. Indian army, the world’s second largest, experienced this pinch when they recently came to know of the cutting of a day’s salary. They later found that Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag didn’t consider it necessary to issue a note informing army’s officials before deducting their salaries and presenting the collected amount of `100 Crore for the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on behalf of  the 1.3 million strong Indian Army on Thursday donated a cheque of over `100 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund after forgoing their one-day salary at the traditional ‘At Home’ at the Army House on the occasion of 76th Army Day. However, the prime minister was not even aware of it.

The Indian army played a major role in the relief and rescue operation in last year’s flood in Jammu and Kashmir by rescuing over 2 lakh stranded people in an operation which lasted for two weeks. The issue has now raised a controversy on the social media, as army officials are claiming that they were not informed about their salary cut and it was not made ‘voluntary’. Caught unaware of the chief’s arbitrary decision, some of the top army officials are even planning to file RTIs to the army headquarters to find out under whose orders the salary cut is being done.

Sources told the Sunday Standard that instructions were issued from the office of the Adjutant General who handles service matter of army, to the Controller of Defiance Account to do the salary cut of one day of every army personnel.  With this order, one day salary of the month January will be deducted to the relief fund.  When contacted for the Army’s version, sources said that army regularly contributes for natural calamity and will continue to do so. “Army followed procedures and rules and this is not the first time, we are doing it,” army sources said. This time, donation was for the Jammu and Kashmir flood relief fund. But, the army officials were surprised with the timing of the donation. It was after six months of the disaster.

“It Can Happen Only In India....!!!! On the occasion of Army Day our Chief Of Army Staff presents a Cheque worth ` 100 Crores to the Prime Minister as PM Releif Fund. The money has been generated by cutting One Day Salary of everybody working in the Indian Army. What an Irony .... Our war widows struggle for their day to day living... Our jawans are not able to afford good education for their Children... and here we become so large hearted to donate money to the politicians... Did the COAS take our permission before doing this...??? When did he start having rights on our hard earned Money...??? Has any Civilian / Politician ever donated his salary for us..? It is time we raise our voice and stop this nonsense before it becomes precedence. Why should we pay for their future Goals,” an official said on WhatsApp.

And he is not the only one, annoyed with it. “Our jawans, who battle under hostile weather conditions with poorly equipped weapons and armory, and his family, survives on the salary. If you are deducting his salary, it has to be voluntary. One cannot do it arbitrarily,” another official said. Even three months back, the Indian air force had also made donation of ` 8.43 crore to the PM Relief fund through donation of a day’s salary of its over 1.7 lakh officers and med deployed across the country. The IAF headquarters had taken consent of its officials before going for the salary cut.

(Source - Jottings blog) 

http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Donation-Without-Consent-Leaves-Army-Offices-Fuming-Against-Chief/2015/01/18/article2623931.ece