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'A Country That Does Not Respect Its Soldiers Is Doomed To Fail' - Rediff
'A Country That Does Not Respect Its Soldiers Is Doomed To Fail' - Rediff
'A Country That Does Not Respect Its Soldiers Is Doomed To Fail' - Rediff
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Major General Satbir Singh, who headed the OROP agitation at Jantar Mantar,
speaks out.
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Major General Satbir Singh SM, left, during the OROP agitation at Jantar Mantar. Photograph: Shirish Shete/PTI
I enjoyed training
when Adrian Le
Roux joined our
team: Tendulkar
ajor General Satbir Singh SM (retd) has been one of the key leaders of the movement of
ex-servicemen demanding One Rank One Pension.
The general is vice-chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement that is spearheading the
agitation of ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar that forced the Union government to concede the
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the right man for
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'Make in India'
We have been hearing reports about senior servicemen facing police harassment.
Is this true?
One of our very senior members, Lieutenant General Lalji, was attacked on October 25. He had
gone to Kotdwar (Uttarakhand) for an ex-servicemen's meeting and returned home at 8 pm.
The talented
Indian
3 benefits of
financial advisors
arrived. Luckily, the couple had the presence of mind to stay calm and address the boys as
beta.
The men ransacked the house, taking Rs 5,000 in cash and whatever jewellery they could find.
They then poured two bottles of petrol on the carpet at the feet of the tied couple, threatening
to set them on fire.
They then kidnapped their adopted daughter, threatening to kill her if the police was informed
before 11 am the next day. The girl returned in an autorickshaw at 7 am. It is not yet known if
she was sexually assaulted.
Now, was this an act to threaten veterans who are campaigning for OROP, or was it a dacoity?
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If it was a robbery, why did they ask Lieutenant General Lalji if he protesting for OROP? I am
aghast that this news hasn't been all over the TV channels.
Look at the shamelessness of this country that they keep running a story about a murder of a
girl by her mother, which is a 5-year-old story, but not showing the murderous attack on a
senior ex-serviceman!
Is this country a banana country, where anyone who raises his voice against unjust practices
should be wiped off the map?
In Dadri, the father of one of our serving officers was killed. Is this also an act committed
because of our fight for OROP? What are the police doing?
Who is safe under this government? Should we be afraid simply because we are fighting for our
rights?
Have you faced any harassment yourself?
My vehicle has been photographed by the police. Some people came to Jantar Mantar and left
a threatening message for me while I wasn't there. They said they would do away with me. I
don't want to speculate on who they were, but it is important to talk about it.
One day I was followed by a man on a motorcycle. From then on, we have adopted measures to
keep ourselves safe. I make sure I never travel alone. I keep a licensed weapon with myself and
have two guards stationed outside my home 24/7.
But the question is what are the government and police doing? I have to pay 20,000 rupees
from my pension for guards to do a job that the government should be doing. Shame on them!
It's a shocking state of affairs in this country! Do they want the army and police to clash with
each other? It will be a very dangerous situation in the country if that happens.
Are currently serving officers extending any assistance?
They live in the cantonment and cannot provide us with constant patrols. But every serving
general should put pressure on the government, for the safety of their homes and ours. The
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Chief of Army should also take some responsibility. But more than any of this, we demand that
the government give us answers.
Why would anyone join the army, live such a hard life, protecting the country if the country
cannot even protect his wife and kids?
Can you tell us about the letter written in blood to the PM?
It's a letter written to the PMO, sent on October 26, signed in blood by almost 200 veterans,
myself included. It is a letter expressing our grievances as OROP has not yet been
implemented. There have been only delays and dilutions.
We are quite demoralised that we haven't been given our due, and not even been granted a
meeting with the PM. We also want to address the fact that the morale of currently serving
officers is very low, as they can see their future at Jantar Mantar.
Do you still have faith in the government?
Look, at the moment, we have no faith. All these pronuncements are only working towards
shifting goal posts, while the people in power have only been mistreating and downgrading us.
Tell us about your time in the army.
All my life, even as a child, I had dreamt of a life in uniform. I come from a long line of men
who have served in the army. My forefathers fought in the Sikh war of the 1800s. Though my
father was an engineer, he joined the Territorial Army. So, as the eldest son, it was a
no-brainer for me.
When I turned 16, I applied to the National Defence Academy in June 1962. I was
commissioned in the Indian Army in June 1966. My time in the army was excellent. I feel it
gave me an opportunity to grow.
Of all the combat I have seen in my life, the 1971 war with Pakistan was the bloodiest. It was
also the most traumatic for my family. The first list of fallen soldiers that came out on
December 7 had my name on it by mistake. I was only married for 10 months, so imagine the
condition at home.
I was unaware of all this while fighting in Poonch. After five days, I found out about this
terrible mistake and after a lot of effort managed to call my family.
What have you been doing since retirement?
After I hung my uniform in 2003, having served for more than 36 years, I realised that options
were limited. I felt it would be most viable to find something where I could continue using my
knowledge of security paradigms. So I worked as an examiner of PhD thesis for security
studies at the Punjab University, Patiala.
Then I started feeling the discontent of how the country treats its soldiers. That's when I
decided to step in and see what I could do to help the soldiers get their due.
If you look at the numbers, they are staggering. There are 45 lakh (4.5 million) ex-servicemen,
and 6.45 lakh (645,000) widows.
So when the Sixth Pay Commission report came out in 2008, we found there was a lot that had
been missed out on. That's when a few of us got together to start an organisation called Indian
Ex-Servicemen Movement.
Is that how the One Rank One Pension agitation started?
Yes, and within a few days when it spread across the country, we realised that there is a lot of
discontent. The issue we had raised was resonating with the rank and file in the villages. 70 per
cent of the serving military in India are our children of ex-servicemen. We started our
movement on April 27, 2008.
It was the first time we went out on the streets and made our point. Our numbers were in the
thousands, and we held our protests at Gurgaon and Noida. The next meeting was a month
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later, and from then on, there has been no looking back.
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The movement has really grown; not only in India, but also other countries where our
ex-servicemen are -- Canada, US, Australia... They are also in touch with us; when they come
here, they join us in our efforts.
OROP is a long overdue demand. Till 1973, it was being applied, but then was withdrawn due
to reasons best known to those who made this decision. The demand picked up steam around
the late 1970s. (Then prime minister) Indira Gandhi was about to grant OROP, but then
unfortunately, she was assassinated. So things were relegated to the backburner again.
Since then, whenever we raked up the issue, some announcements were made to placate us,
but OROP was not granted. Finally, we decided we had to agitate in a peaceful dignified
manner, which has worked to an extent. The government has announced OROP, but there are
still a few points that need to be ironed out.
IMAGE: Major General Satbir Singh with ex-servicemen as they break their fast-unto-death hunger strike after
the government announced OROP.
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IMAGE: Major General Satbir Singh speaks during the OROP agitation at Jantar Mantar.
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But my wife, to whom I am supposed to give much more time, feels the lack of it. I often miss
important things like giving her insulin injections (she is diabetic). She is very understanding
about those times, but often makes statements like, 'It's not worth it.'
The letter the Veterans wrote the prime minister: 'We are deeply hurt by this
stepchild treatment'
Insiyah Vahanvaty
Related News: OROP, Satbir Singh SM, Jantar Mantar, Lalji, IMAGE
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Discussion Board
Write a message
Total 29 messages
OROP
by devendra sawhney (View MyPage) on Oct 30, 2015 05:41 AM
If Satbir ji is really interested in the welfare for the jawans, he should offer that the OROP be implemented for jawans
and lower ranks; as it is, the retired defense officers are getting fabulous pension, besides two increments annually
by way of DA rise. Let them sacrifice this and fight only for jawans/lower rank soldiers
Forward | Report abuse
OROP
by devendra sawhney (View MyPage) on Oct 30, 2015 05:41 AM
If Satbir ji is really interested in the welfare for the jawans, he should offer that the OROP be implemented for jawans
and lower ranks; as it is, the retired defense officers are getting fabulous pension, besides two increments annually
by way of DA rise. Let them sacrifice this and fight only for jawans/lower rank soldiers
Forward | Report abuse
spoldiers vs politicians
by gagan (View MyPage) on Oct 29, 2015 10:35 PM | Hide replies
Mr. satbir singhji , with due respect to ur career this country and govt. do resoect the soldiers but if u start behaving
like politician u will loose all respect wat u r about to. u have been silent against sonia, manmohan and the congress
party who took away OROP from army but u start disturbing the country's peaceful environmewnet for ur political
career by making false allegations against the govt. the modi govt has time and again reiterated their stand on
implementaion of OROP and they have done it too. but u cant digest that why this govt has snatched ur agenda byb
implementing it. U r worried now who will ask u. thats why u r producing misleading facts in fromt of the illeerate
soldiers and countrymen. U r trying to make fool of people. and in this way when govt has already said given
approval and notification will be issued after bihar elections. U r trying to start a war against law of land. U r bringing
bad name to the most respected community of mankind -THE SOLDIERS. If u want to do politics , why dont u join
congress under whose money power u r operating since last 16 months
Forward | Report abuse
Re: spoldiers vs politicians
by Rajnathbhai Srinivas (View MyPage) on Oct 30, 2015 12:24 AM
OROP protest so that the Government realizes they are heading for. Modi Jumlas or Jugadds are
exposed. We should credit them and a peaceful protest. Some who do not understand may rebut.
IS OROP SMALL MATTER? Where are the good governance's? Where is the Aachhe Din? Is it
good for you? Writers well appreciated and meaning protest. The PM is busy with tours and
Bihar politics. PM doesnt go for shouting for votes for states. BJP govt is suppressing the
legitimate voices of officers and employees - Is this Gujarat Model? They can fool all the people
some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but they cannot fool all the people all the
time. This arrogance will bring the curtains down for the BJP and Scandals and scam everywhere
- No chance.
Forward | Report abuse
spoldiers vs politicians
by gagan (View MyPage) on Oct 29, 2015 10:34 PM
Mr. satbir singhji , with due respect to ur career this country and govt. do resoect the soldiers but if u start behaving
like politician u will loose all respect wat u r about to. u have been silent against sonia, manmohan and the congress
party who took away OROP from army but u start disturbing the country's peaceful environmewnet for ur political
career by making false allegations against the govt. the modi govt has time and again reiterated their stand on
implementaion of OROP and they have done it too. but u cant digest that why this govt has snatched ur agenda byb
implementing it. U r worried now who will ask u. thats why u r producing misleading facts in fromt of the illeerate
soldiers and countrymen. U r trying to make fool of people. and in this way when govt has already said given
approval and notification will be issued after bihar elections. U r trying to start a war against law of land. U r bringing
bad name to the most respected community of mankind -THE SOLDIERS. If u want to do politics , why dont u join
congress under whose money power u r operating since last 16 months
Forward | Report abuse
spoldiers vs politicians
by gagan (View MyPage) on Oct 29, 2015 10:33 PM
Mr. satbir singhji , with due respect to ur career this country and govt. do resoect the soldiers but if u start behaving
like politician u will loose all respect wat u r about to. u have been silent against sonia, manmohan and the congress
party who took away OROP from army but u start disturbing the country's peaceful environmewnet for ur political
career by making false allegations against the govt. the modi govt has time and again reiterated their stand on
implementaion of OROP and they have done it too but u cant digest that why this govt has snatched ur agenda byb
30-Oct-15 8:25 AM
'A country that does not respect its soldiers is doomed to fail' - Rediff.co...
9 of 9
http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/a-country-that-does-not-respect-it...
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