From: Maurice Abel maurice.abel@ukonline.co.uk
Subject: Re: [indianveterans] ESM sitrep 17 May evening
To: "REPORT MY SIGNAL(CS Kamboj)" kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in; TRUNCATED
Date: Monday, 18 May, 2009, 7:46 PM
Dear Friends,
It is naive for anyone to ignore the fact that the IESM from the outset was NOT APOLITICAL by any stretch of imagination, or fuzzy thinking, or any sophistry of explanation or meaning.
The leaders were apparently confused themselves, did not understand the meaning of the word properly and its implications, and themselves so accustomed to using the term 'apolitical' through their service careers that they were in Raj Kadyan's words, " It shows that some of us are mentally still in uniform".
The IESM WAS NEVER DETACHED FROM POLITICS, POLITICIANS, POLITICAL Mean and Ends e.g., trying to get the Govt to agree to OROP is itself a political action. (E.g. meeting Sonia Gandhi who is a political leader and not in the Govt very early in the campaign was applauded by most ESM in this forum - no one said it was a political action, which in fact, it was)
It is also strange that anyone, and there were many of us, who encouraged Harwant and other ESM, to stand for election, to help in the ESM cause should think that their action was 'apolitical'. Trying to influence the outcomes in Parliament is NOT APOLITICAL!
I endorse Raj's views completely; putting OROP on the political map / agenda and apprising all political parties about it, demonstrating our resolve and ability to affect voting of large numbers of ESM, even if some of the candidates we supported lost, was a critically important achievement. (Mind you, personally I did not support the BJP, even in theory, due to the reports of actions of their cadres and atrocities in Orissa against Christians - which I clearly stated in this forum very early on)
A final point - I cannot understand why there is so much blind adherence to the concept of ESM having to be apolitical. Even VP Malik in recent writing is obsessed by the Services and ESM being 'politicised'. What on earth is meant by being 'politicised'? And why is this anathema? His seems to be a 'Pavlovian response' and not rational thought, or reasoning.
Our experience of ESM being apolitical over the last 62 years is VERY UNPLEASANT and why hang on to a rotten and failed idea? The Babus and politicians have exploited our stupidity with our willing consent!!!
Best regards
Maurice Abel
(Col Maurice Abel, UK)
