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Friday, December 17, 2010

Reply to Letter from Mr Praveen Davar

Dear Mr Davar,
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Thanks for your letter, perhaps addressed to a large number of defence veterans. I really do not know you but after reading your letter I am compelled to express my frank and forthright views for your benefit.
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Firstly, I would like to know as to in which capacity have you taken the trouble to write to us on a subject which concerns the defence veterans squarely and who are you trying to represent in discouraging the veterans to desist from their peaceful protests for seeking justice from the government. Am I right to presume that you are one amongst us and represent them with the government.
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In any case let me tell you that whatever you are saying is totally unwarranted and seems to be an attempt to cover the inefficiency and the indifferent attitude of the congress or to be precise the UPA Government towards its gallant and dignified defence veterans. It is most unfortunate to bring to your kind notice that the successive governments have forgotten the gallantry and sacrifices of its past soldiers, who have exclusively kept the country together in spite of the malafide intentions of many to disintegrate the country. It is indeed shameless or should I say shameful on the part of a person, who is not only incapable of holding a gun straight and to put on a uniform properly, to pass derogatory comments on the conduct of the defence veterans who have dedicated major portion of their life in the service of the nation in most relentless remote and secluded areas on Indian borders in the most dignified, just and gallant manner.
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Could you please clarify, whether it is unlawful or unjustified to hold peaceful protests to seek proper justice from their Supreme Commander and their government whose integrity they have upheld all along? You could not be blind to the dignified ways and means adopted by the defence veterans to seek justice from the government and its worthless, indifferent, incapable and corrupt machinery down the line, which does not allow even the judiciary to carry out its lawful duties.
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It is altogether a different story and a debatable issue that neither Indias so called Supreme Commander, nor anyone in the Indian Government, has had the time to spare, for such gallant men to listen to their grievances and understand them, leave alone attend to their long pending grievances in a judicious manner. Their signatures in blood and their surrendering gallantry medals have not only been blatantly ignored but have failed to move anyone including the Supreme Commander but anyone in the government who matters. Instead their feelings of disgust and protest have been considered as lacking dignity and a joke for some. Perhaps, they have forgotten the actions and sacrifices of their forefathers who fought tooth and nail for earning freedom for this country.
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There is no doubt that these gallant men are deeply respected and adored from the bottom of their hearts by majority of Indian citizens, who know their capabilities and achievements in all spheres of national activity and understand their pain and unhappiness upon the cognisable neglect shown by the Indian government towards their problems and failing in their responsibility of undoing the injustices heaped upon them.
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Mr Davar, you seem to have been totally guided by, your lack of experience and complete ignorance about the injustices perpetrated, by ungratefully denying the gallant, and dependable defence forces of India and their past soldiers, an honourable existence, in return for their unflinching selfless service rendered to the nation even at the peril of their life, by the successive governments. This unjust precedence seems to have become a part and parcel of the government policies towards the defence veterans and a clear cut example of false promises, hoodwinking and total indifference towards upholding their dignity and fulfilling their just needs. The government seems to be lacking a genuine interest towards solving their justified and genuine problems and have closed their eyes completely to the peaceful protests and demands of these gallant men, at the behest of sycophant, lazy, highly irresponsible, incapable, corrupt and self serving bureaucracy.
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The same government could not oppose the 300% to 500% increase in the salary of the public representatives in less than a week, majority of whom have already amassed unlimited wealth from the country. This seems to be the priority of this government to deny, the deserving defence forces veterans who have been struggling for this just demand which may amount to an increase of may be 20% to 30% in their pensions to make their life a bit more liveable in the dusk of their lives for nearly 26 years, but is so liberal to grant 3 to 5 fold increments to their already crorepati MPs.
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The action of only one amongst them ie Mr Rajeev Chandrashekhar in refusing increment in favour of defence veterans cause, is not only courageous but highly commendable. It is wished that some more who see the defence forces in higher esteem could follow his example. It is a pity that there are not many in this country who are inclined to sacrifice for any worthwhile cause or the nation leave alone the defence forces except of course giving lip service. Incidentally, as far as our MPs are concerned, a good number of whom are facing criminal cases. You seem to be well supporting their behaviour in the highest platform of the country towards upholding the honour, discipline, mannerism and izzat of the country, associated with their status. Perhaps that is the standard now being forced to be followed by the countrys citizens.
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Mr Davar, you seem to be one of the very few Indians, who besides the government, do not have genuine interests and feelings towards the grievances of the defence forces in your heart, because you do not understand high level of their character and their system of functioning. Your sarcastic remarks against them give a fair indication of your mindset. I hope you know that they function in a straight forward, upright and transparent manner and not crooked like most government functionaries do these days.
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You should very well realise and understand that the governments are there to assist their subjects in solving their problems and to ensure their welfare so that they get due justice in a fair manner, rather than obstructing their cause, to harass them and to ignore their genuine grievances, inspite of the fact that the courts have ruled in their favour. It seems that the dispassionate ministerial staff and subordinates in the national capital who are never or dare not be moved out of Delhi, are the main accomplices of the bureaucracy and major villains in such matters and that their aim is only to get everything what they want and deny all others what they genuinely deserve. Such is the class of people in whose hands destiny of the defence forces is entrusted. Unfortunately, this meanest class of people in the ministries exploits the defence services to the core in a manner treating them as national enemies and not those who defend the nation and uphold its integrity. Is it by chance an indication of good governance?
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The Rank Pay Case of the 4th CPC is a striking example in point, to prove the unsporting behaviour of the ruling government and the bureaucracy to unduly delay/deny the benefits to the affected lot as a result of this anomaly. The defence personnel who have already earned the benefits of the 4th CPC way back since, 1st January 1986, have mischievously been denied the benefits all these years and despite a Supreme Court ruling in their favour the benefits have still been held up. The government has not become a pauper, that they are unable to disburse the benefits, which should have been given to them years back, and seem to have been compelled to obstruct the benefits already earned by the affected soldiers, by filing another petition in the Supreme Court to deny the benefits to the deserving soldiers. Is it an indication of good governance?
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Mr Davar, it is indeed painful to go through your reasoning, and your attempt to justify the step motherly treatment being given by the government so far to the cause of the defence veterans. The attitude displayed in your letter gives a strong feeling that it may take years before the just demand would ever be fulfilled. By then the government would feel satisfied and take pleasure in getting the news that most of its gallant warriors of yester years do not exist in this world and would not be there to demand OROP, which seems to be pinching its soul like no other demand from any other quarters, as also to save a fraction of their finances from giving to the defence veterans. Government is least concerned about the billions of dollars stashed away in foreign banks by its corrupt citizens.
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Finally, Mr Davar, if you have the slightest of respect and a heart to feel for these gallant and brave ex soldiers of this country, you should instead of giving this uncalled for advice, go out of your way, to do something worthwhile for these people ie to get them the benefit of OROP and the arrears of Rank Pay resulting from the 4th CPC, so that they remember and respect you as their representative to the government and not hate you for your mean mentality till posterity.
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Jai Hind to one and all
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Col LK Anand Retd
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Letter from Mr Praveen Davar
Dear All
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The Indian Armed Forces are voluntary service and the terms of service are well known to us when we join the service, Dignity, honor, discipline and izzat associated with the forces has been severely damaged by the way some people are conducting the movement for OROP. Stooping to signing petition with blood is a new low in the abominable acts conducted by one group in public domain. Approx fifty to sixty thousand Ex Servicemen are added to the fraternity of Veterans every year. Imagine the needless negativity they have to encounter as a result of unconventional methods of dissent or communication with the government. May almighty grant the senior officers leading this movement wisdom to conduct the activities in a civilized manner resist the temptation of character assassination and attack on individuals. And for heavens sake let us not mislead the PBORs and officers and take them on a flight of fancy.
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I have always felt that we should be content with what we get and devote the rest of our post-service life for the cause of poor and needy. I have met thousands of Ex-Servicemen who say that they never expected such hefty pensions. We render disservice to the Nation, if we try and create dissatisfaction where it does not exist. My intention was never to hurt any ones sentiments and the statements made by me or anyone else was based on information given from within your ranks.
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The Supreme Court has also examined the OROP; petition filed by Ex Servicemen League (1991 1 SCR 158), as a sequel to the decision of the court in DS Nakara & Others case of KL Rathee Versus union of India 1997 (3) SLR 207 Versus Union of India, the court in the decision dated 29 Jan 1991 took the view that the claim of pre 1 Apr 1979 retirees being entitled to same pension as post 1 Apr 1979 retirees was untenable. The Supreme Court has taken similar view for civil side as well.
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The Defence Minister, Sh. A. K. Antony deserves the gratitude of Ex-Servicemen for stating in Parliament that the goal of OROP would be reached gradually. This has encouraged all Ex-Servicemen in the country. We appeal to all Ex-Servicemen organizations, especially retired officers, not to use any offensive or provocative language. The cause of Ex-Servicemen will suffer if IESM does not mend its ways and the harsh language it uses. Soldiers shed blood only on the battlefield. As Ex-Servicemen they can donate blood to the Red Cross Society/Hospitals for the needy. Signing letters in blood is unlike a soldier.
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Returning medals is not only unsoldierlike, but also unethical and immoral, especially in view of the fact that no govt in the past has done so much for the welfare of serving soldiers and Ex-Servicemen as the UPA-1 and UPA-2. Pay and pensions have gone up nearly 300% in the last 5 years which is unprecedented.
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Further, while presenting the Budget for 2008-09 the government substantially improved the pension of pre-January, 2006 Defence pensioners below officer rank and brought pre-October 10, 1997 pensioners on par with post- October 10, 1997 pensioners i.e. pre 2006 pensioners. Anomalies in some ranks of officers from Majors to Major General are being addressed. Congress has done for welfare of both serving soldiers and Ex-servicemen what no party has ever done, or will ever have the capacity to do. So let people not be misled by the false promises made by other parties in their manifestos or otherwise.
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We must also heed the appeal of Defence Minister not to return medals. Doing so, in my opinion, is an undignified, illegal and unconstitutional act. Let us control our emotions and give the govt time to resolve the OROP issue.
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Jai Hind & God bless us all!
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Praveen Davar

6 comments:

  1. Dear Col Anand,

    I did myself write to this Davar chap after seeing his dirty Mail. It was a very strong rebuke to him. Fortunately ( for him !) that mail got washed out due to the press of some wrong button !. The I did Not have the stamina & inclination to write all that again. So, he got 'saved'.

    But then, YOU have done MUCH BETTER, as the way U have written I could never have written so well. Yours is a very polite but MORE THAN STRONG 'Danda' to him.

    Well done. CONGRATS for living up to the expectations of all ESM

    General A.J.B.Jaini, AVSM
    Member Gov Body,
    Steering Committee & Core Gp - IESM

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  2. My Dear Aditya,

    I am delighted to read your comments on my write up to Mr Davar. In fact I was really upset at the very language used by him to taunt and insult the defence veterans. I was too keen to give him a befitting and deserving reply to enable us all veterans to at least maintain and uphold the dignity for which we stand and live. Your comments on my reply really make me feel great and lend me a sense of satisfaction that I have been able to fulfil my aim adequately. Thanks a lot.

    I wonder if you remember me. I was AAG in 12 Inf Div when you were commanding 6 (Not sure of number) Grenadiers. Later I went to command 45 BRTF in Jodhpur only. Brig Madan Verma was Dy GOC. These tenures, no doubt were great.

    Col LK Anand

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  3. Nice recalling the 'Good Old Days' !
    Yes, I was commanding 14 GDRS. Where R U located?. I am @ Ghaziabad & presently fully committed in the activities of IESM - fighting for 'OROP'

    Jaini

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  4. Dear Aditya,

    Well I am in Indore and am doing property valuation, being a Governmant Registered Valuer. Inspite of a low profile I maintain, I do take a lot of interest in reading the mails concerning the IESM, especially those coming from Brig Kamboj "Report My Signal" though I write very rarely.

    The Supreme Court directive coming on the formation of a separate pay commission for the defence services is indeed a great news and certainly a shot in the arm, besides a feather in the cap of the IESM functioneries. With this the things have become more interesting and exciting indeed. The efforts of the IESM have finally started showing results. However, I still feel that we must not give up till our aims and goals are achieved fully and finally.

    However, I have a fear that in keeping with their earliar stand on the issue, the government especially the bureaucracy, may try and find excuses to drag its feet on the issue in some way or the other, to stall the directive of the Apex Court. We must keep the pressure on through all possible means to ensure that justice is finally done and IESM goals are ultimately achieved. We could take the help of some strong supporters of IESM, like Mr Rajeev Chandrashekhar, if required.

    Good luck to IESM.

    Col LK Anand

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  5. dear lk ,

    well done for a be - fitting reply to mr davar.i totally agree with your views. it is unfortunate that in our country a large section of society including the educated ones, either do not understand or wish away the steady decline in the status of the armed forces in terms of izzat , salaries & perks vis- a vis what they do for the nation .it is heartening to note that supreme court has now advised the govt to follow chanakya niti & look after the grievances of the armed forces.

    in my views the nation is facing the following major problems : inadequate national charatcter which is menifested in apathy towards armed forces , poor governance & accountabilty of govt officials ,high level of corruption & very large population.if we sort out the first three ills then the fourth one should be easier to tackle .
    so let us keep up our efforts as per the charter of the iesm.
    god speed!

    pradeep saklani

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  6. You are wasting your time on this man.

    He was kicked out of Army within few years – a disgrace to Armoured Corps while in service.

    He has no medal, he is not in receipt of pension, red colour water flows through his veins and is NOT an ESM.

    We spoke to Brig KP Singh Deo, Head of Ex Servicemen Cell of the Congress Party, about this man’s behaviour – Brig Singh Deo simply said – “he is disgrace to Congress – we are ashamed of him”.

    He is nothing more than a boot licker of the Congress leaders.

    When some veterans met him in 2009, he told them “Pension is a function of salary, salary can be revised retrospectively, therefore there is no question of Pension being revised or OROP”.

    A lunatic of the first order.

    Regards.

    Chander Kamboj

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