CAN BJP AFFORD TO ANNOY EX-SERVICEMEN

Indian Military Veterans

For the last ten years, BJP had been attempting to convince all sections of the society that BJP is a party with a difference and will enforce rule of law as and when given a chance. BJP had also been communicating that the party will ensure a stronger military. The party had promised that they will genuinely look after the welfare of ESM and will not provide mere lip service.

BJP had needed the large untapped section of society of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen to vote for them. Since Independence serving soldier had been denied fundamental right of franchise. A serving soldier could not vote in his service career. So-called facility of postal ballot never reached the units and some postal ballots which were sent by units could never reach the constituency before counting. Soldiers have now been permitted to vote on their place of posting by the Election Commission of India.

Soldiers and ex-servicemen were not happy with the Governments since independence as their status in the society was continuously downgraded by the Government since Independence. Their basic needs were also overlooked by the Government.

BJP quickly realized that serving soldiers and ex-servicemen are a very large potential vote bank. One does not have to be a great mathematician to calculate that this untapped group has approx. 5 crore votes. Together, this vote bank can influence about 150 parliamentary constituencies in national elections and will definitely impact results in assembly elections of seven to eight states of India depending on their population density. BJP visualized the importance of this vote bank in fulfilling their dream of coming to power with absolute majority. BJP President Sh Raj Nath Singh and PM candidate Sh Narendra Modi promised that all the demands of Ex-servicemen would be approved including One Rank One Pension (OROP) as soon as BJP/NDA is formed Government at center.

Ex-servicemen in India were fragmented in small groups and hence could not influence elections as a united vote bank. Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) realized that in India, the only way to get demands approved is to flex your muscle at the ballot box. IESM took the responsibility of uniting this vote bank and making them understand the importance of power of their vote. Soon, this large vote bank started thinking beyond local issues and for the welfare of ESM family. This had the desired effect and IESM became voice of a large population of ESM and openly expressed their opposition to neglect of ESM family by the Government. Congress Party realized, albeit late, that this large vote bank is alienated from congress because of constant neglect by the Government and the party since Independence. Congress party/ UPA Government attempted to salvage the situation by approving ESM’s most important demand of One Rank One Pension in the Vote-on-Account budget presented on 17 Feb 13 and allotted Rs 500 crore for OROP. The then Defence Minister Sh AK Anthony chaired a meeting on 26 Feb 14 and instructed MOD to involve ESM and issue the necessary Government notification at the earliest. Definition of OROP, as given below, was also sent to CDA, as instructed by the RM to facilitate the Government notification.

QUOTE, “It was noted that one rank one pension implies that uniform pension be paid to Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of the date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners and also the future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners”. UNQUOTE. The RM had further clarified that sufficient funds would be made available to meet the expenditure of OROP.

Ex-servicemen suspected that grant of OROP by the Congress Party/ Government just before the election was a ploy to garner votes of the large ESM community. By this time the ESM community was so incensed with Congress party/ Government, that despite approval of OROP by UPA Government, ESM community decided to boycott congress party and repose trust in BJP promises and voted for BJP to ensure full majority for BJP. Result of Lok Sabha election of Apr/May 13 is for all to see.

BJP Government also approved OROP and allotted a further sum of Rs 1,000 crore for OROP in the budget presented on 10 July 14. IESM delegation met FM and RM Sh Arun Jaitley on 16 July 14. The FM assured the IESM delegation that sufficient funds will be made available for OROP. However BJP thinking became suspect when FM & RM, Sh Arun Jaitley asked the IESM delegation to reduce their demands as the gap between pension of past pensioners and present pensioners was too wide. IESM delegation politely but firmly rejected this suggestion and reminded the FM/ RM that there is only one definition of OROP and that cannot be diluted/ changed and rest is only calculations and making of tables to issue the notification. Commitment to OROP was confirmed by the Prime Minister himself on 12 Aug 14 while addressing a huge gathering of Armed Forces at Leh. The Hon’ble Prime Minister assured officers and soldiers that OROP is a commitment of his Government and sufficient funds had been earmarked for grant of full OROP.

Armed Forces Pay Cell has prepared a Draft Government Letter for issuance of notification and it has been sent to MOD in early July. The file is pending with MOD for approval and issuance of notification. Government’s intention to honor their commitment and their efficiency is under test.

After a wait of 30 years, OROP has been approved for Armed Forces personnel. It has the distinct sanction of two Parliaments and approval of two major parties of India. Any hurdle in issuance of notification for OROP under any pressure will not be accepted by the ESM community. ESM community is now wiser and understands the power of their vote and will use it judiciously in the forthcoming elections in four states. These are the states with maximum concentration of soldiers/ ESM.

Results of recent by-election of assembly seats in Punjab and Bihar are indicators that forces opposed to BJP are attempting to rejoin hands to keep BJP away from forming Government in Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi and Jharkhand. It is a warning sign for BJP.

Can the BJP afford to annoy the Ex Servicemen family by delaying the notification of OROP? Only at its own peril.

Gp Capt VK Gandhi

 Gen Sec IESM 

 29 Aug 14

 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
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