From: Karan Kharb
To: raj kadyan ; Kamboj Chander
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 6:18 PM
Subject: Congrats! The King is dead; long live the King!
Dear General,
I congratulate you for the kind of restraint and maturity with which you have acted in response to the rain of criticism that was only to be expected from the spectators - TAMASHGIRS! May be, others in the IESM too need to restrain themselves like wise rather than reacting with anger and emotion. Most of the criticism is best killed by simply ignoring it.
The IESM decision to support the BJP was absolutely justified and in no way questionable even in the hindsight. The Party had unequivocally supported our demands. In fact, they not only supported the OROP verbatim, but also went a step further to do much more for the Armed Forces in their Election Manifesto. You lent support to them in return of their support for our Cause. That has in no way diminished IESM’s apolitical credentials. Extending or denying support to any political party on the basis of issues clearly spelt out is simply an understanding of mutual help. It is a bargain which is a thousand times nobler than the blatant horse-trading ethos of our political spectrum. Dealing with political parties in a democracy is unavoidable but this ‘dealing’ is distinct from being ‘politically aligned.’
Your achievements are already laudable. The political system of the country has taken note of OROP and other related issues of the Armed Forces and ESM. The IESM movement has made them sit up. Even Congress was impelled to announce that it had instituted a Committee to bring about parity in pensions – their subsequent retraction is understandable! So, they too are listening to you. Since IESM is in no way politically tied with BJP, Congress or any other Party, we must feel free to proceed ahead. Today, the Congress Party deserves our whole hearted congratulations just as much as the BJP deserves our sympathy – even a sob or two! The King is dead; long live the King!
Sometimes negatives multiply to become positives in true mathematical sense. Outright support to the Congress candidates by the Haryana/Punjab units of IESM must have been a bitter pill for you to swallow at that time. Likewise, the IESL too has supported the Congress Party during the elections. But these fissures provide you the individuals and platforms who can serve as your bespoke channels of communication with the ruling Party. The altered scenario calls for a paradigm shift and, if we capacity to change, we will gain in many ways.
The BJP might have failed but you and the IESM have not. In fact in these elections the ESM have gained considerably because for the first time ever their voting power has been reckoned. Therefore, I congratulate you all again!
Regards,
Karan Kharb
