It has been more than thirty years

Indian Military Veterans

It has been more than thirty years

When the veterans first voiced their fears
About the shabby treatment the soldier got
After every war that he had fought

The babu swiftly rose to create much tension

Whenever the veteran spoke about his pension
And influenced the course of every pay commission
To deny the fauji his due through many an omission

Pay and perks were drastically downgraded
Although the military might was often paraded
The political bosses, while with the soldier drank his rum
Slowly allowed themselves to come under the babu’s thumb

Pre elections from rooftops the netas did shout
That loyalty and honuor of the soldier was never in doubt
After elections his brain with amnesia was fraught
Promises forgotten, a bitter lesson to the soldier was taught

After many agitations and return of medals to the President
The leader awoke but the babu was still very hesitant
The leaders, MPs and government in a hurry OROP did grant
Telling the veteran he would get all that he did want

Change of government did raise the veteran’s hope
Little did he know the wily babu would tighten the rope
His scheming brain would whip up many an excuse
Giving the netas all the ammunition to refuse

On many an occasion the RM & PM did say
OROP our government is morally bound to pay
They said "to your members pan India do relay
We have the intent and no intention to delay"

The veterans’ fraternity refuses to take the bait
For three decades and more they have had to wait
RM's made a promise to issue the GoI letter by mid-May
PM & RM please don't betray our trust in you on this day!

© ADC
Note: Babu=bureaucrat=an official who works by fixed routine without exercising intelligent judgment. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Source : 

http://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.in/