A humble request to all Armed Forces Veterans. One of the basic tenets of camaraderie is 'all for one' and 'one for all'. Then why do we have different camps using the banner of UNITED FRONT OF EX-SERVICEMEN, working with the same aim of getting OROP sanctioned by Government of India as approved by the Parliament and promised by PM Modi in his election campaigns. However, the two UFESM as it appears are dead against and slandering at each other no holds bar.
OROP is the right of each and every Armed Forces veteran across party lines and individual biases.
All veteran organisations had come together under one umbrella organisation UFESM and all was going fine till 5 Sep '15 the day OROP announcement was made by RM.
Thereafter, ESM organisations seem to have parted ways. one group continued with agitation path and while others did not. This divide is definitely not in the interest of 30 lacs pensioners and family pensioners. Agitation or negotiations should have had the consensus of majority rather than singular group calling the shots based on show of hands at JM or responses to dictums given on social media which reached majority veterans through forwarded messages reaching recipients passing through second, third and multiple hands.
The group at JM conducted rallies in different state capitals addressing Veterans on OROP. However, giving stage to Ram Jethmalani at Patna rally gave a political tinge to OROP movement. Politicisation of OROP has not been liked by majority of the veterans including rank and file. Even local public and media have not appreciated this move with their opinion turning adverse to Armed Forces veterans. This can have a negative impact on the intake into Armed Forces and serving fraternity.
In the meantime Government consulted veteran organisations like IESL, ABPSSP to discuss OROP issues and not the other group at JM. What has been gathered that a group of ESM organisations have come together and registered an umbrella organisation viz UNITED FRONT OF EX-SERVICEMEN and had a meeting on 5 Nov. '15 appealing to all ESM organisations to come together to tackle contentious OROP issues and other ESM related issues.
The opposing ESM sides have also indulged in viscous and slanderous attacks on each other blaming and abusing one and other on social media.
Dispassionately looking at it both sides are to blame for the impasse and animosity. When Lalu and Nitish can come together to fight against and contend with Modi led NDA dispensation and come out victorious, I see no reason why the group at JM and newly formed UFESM can not put their egos and differences aside and come on a common platform to resolve and settle contentious points that remains to be settled.
In my opinion, OROP issues can only be resolved by negotiating with the Government / Judicial Commission across the table to justify our contention point by point with authentic facts and figures in a dignified manner. Moreover, Government is not likely to invite and discuss anything with agitating veteran representatives. Instead they will sort out issues with other ESM functionaries.
Therefore the need of the hour is for all ESM organisations big or small to unconditionally come together and work as one entity. In the heart of hearts, I am confident that majority Veterans would feel the same.
Regards,
Brig R Vinayak, VSM (Retd.)
Presently large number of Veterans organisation working / commenting/ speaking on the issue of OROP. Untill unless we are on one agenda one forum we will never remain focused. Veterans are also working like political parties , divided. Please come on one platform , thought , agenda.
ReplyDeleteI entirely agree with the contents of Brig Vinayak's appeal to all the ex-servicemen to ahun their individual political or pecuniary interests and form one single entity to work for our single point agenda of OROP. Quite frankly we seem to be emulating the very same politicians who are responsible to denigrate the armed forces for years. In my belief, we are made of much firmer stuff than the politicians. We are beholden to maintain the trust reposed in us by our colleagues. We must, therefore, row together to achieve our singular aim.
ReplyDeleteI entirely agree with the contents of Brig Vinayak's appeal to all the ex-servicemen to ahun their individual political or pecuniary interests and form one single entity to work for our single point agenda of OROP. Quite frankly we seem to be emulating the very same politicians who are responsible to denigrate the armed forces for years. In my belief, we are made of much firmer stuff than the politicians. We are beholden to maintain the trust reposed in us by our colleagues. We must, therefore, row together to achieve our singular aim.
ReplyDelete