Dated: 23 Apr 2009
MEETING WITH THE DEFENCE MINISTER ON 22 APRIL 2009
AND OTHER ISSUES
Dear Friends,
1. We continue our efforts towards our mission to get justice for the Defence Forces. Towards this, WO Balathilakan, Col. Bhardwaj & self met the Defence Minister at his residence at 9:30 AM on 22 April 2009. The meeting was facilitated by WO Balathilakan. The following issues were discussed:-
(a) We requested the Defence Minister for the latest status on grant of OROP. He informed that they were committed to grant improvement in pensions to the past pensioners & are expediting the finalization of the same. He informed that they are working on some where closer to the OROP but not the OROP as being demanded by us. We informed him that the concept of grant of same pension to ESM holding the same rank and having same length of service has been upheld by the Supreme Court also and as such this genuine demand must be accepted.
(b) We requested the Defence Minister that members from IESM must be part of
any discussion on the grant of OROP / enhancement of pensions to the past pensioners since IESM represents over two million ESM of our country. I informed him that a letter by our Chairman Gen. Kadyan addressed to the Defence Minister with copy to Secretary ESM has already been sent three days back. To this, the Defence Minister responded positively.
2. I also request maximum publicity & action by ESM on our Advisory issued on 12 April 2009 with regard to our vote & support to BJP during the coming Lok Sabha elections. We the ESM must have our interests of the whole community of ESM in mind in this regard. Our suggested support to BJP is one time testing since it is the only National Political party which has in writing committed to implement OROP at the earliest. Should they not act on this, we will go all out to oppose them. Let us ponder over “there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies”. We need to follow the “World Order Concept” of multipolarity, based on our interest “Hook on or Hook off”. We need to learn from such strategies.
3. Friends, let us increase our membership. All ESM must become the members of IESM. Please motivate others to join the Movement. All State Conveners are requested to constitute, District, City, Tehsil, Block committees in theirs states at the earliest & carry out extensive membership drive”.
“Hitch your wagons High up in the sky”
God bless God speed
With regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman IESM
