Monthly Archives: August 2018

The Indian Air Force has been forced to commence intermediate stage II pilot training with the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainer aircraft (BTA), which also serves as its basic stage I trainer.

“We understand that in the last couple of months, the IAF has thoroughly tested the aircraft with regard to their Stage II training syllabus requirements and determined that the PC-7 Mk II is very capable for deployment in an intermediate flying training role,” says Pilatus Aircraft executive Jim Roche in an email to Flightglobal.

The PC-7 Mk II’s service entry in early 2013 ended the crisis stemming from the grounding of Hindustan Aeronautics’ HPT-32 ‘Deepak’ basic trainer on safety grounds.

Prior to the induction of the PC-7, the air force undertook stage I and stage II training on Kiran jet trainers. In a reversal of roles, the PC-7 Mk II will now take-over the Kiran’s Stage II training role, as the service looks to keep the 1960s type in service till 2018.

A number of challenges remain for the air force. Only 38 additional PC-7 Mk IIs are planned to be acquired from Pilatus, for a total of 113, instead of the 181 originally planned.

Despite the delay in finalising the contract, the Swiss airframer’s now proven ability to deliver aircraft in short order, once a contract is inked, could be a source of comfort for the air force.

At the beginning of the year, then HAL Chairman RK Tyagi told Flightglobal that its developmental basic trainer, the HTT40, would undertake its maiden flight before the end of the year. It would provide an indigenous solution to India’s basic trainer needs and include a weaponised variant. Developmental work on the type is now expected to be completed by 2018.

Nonetheless, Pilatus remains confident of a firm order for 38 more PC-7 Mk IIs.

“As has been reported by various IAF sources, discussions are continuing between Pilatus and the Indian air force regarding implementation of the option clause within the current contract,” says Roche.

One advantage Pilatus has is a hot production line, which is producing five PC-7 Mk IIs for Malaysia and will produce nine PC-9Ms for Jordon. Deliveries for both run out to 2017.

HAL, meanwhile, continues to have issues with its HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT).

Fifteen years of development have resulted in an aircraft that is overweight, has yet to clear spin trials and is powered by an NPO Saturn AL-55I engine with a Total Technical Life (TTL) of only 300 hours.

The IAF has orders for 12 limited series production (LSP) aircraft, of which six have been produced so far, and orders for 73 series production aircraft. Nonetheless, the air force issued a request for information to global OEMs in February 2014 seeking an IJT. With the PC-7 Mk II fulfilling the stage II training role of the IJT, it is not clear if this RFI will lead to an RFP.

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 25
The Chinese navy has recently completed a series of ‘realistic confrontation training exercises’ in the South China Sea (SCS) which could set the tone for renewed tension in the disputed waters.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fielded a new type of ‘submarine’. However, it is not clear if the vessel was one of the new Type 94 Jin-class nuclear submarines. Multi-type of destroyers and frigates carrying anti-submarine helicopters were part of the exercise.
Sources said the vessel was a submarine submersible ballistic nuclear (SSBN)—- in other terms, a nuclear-powered sub capable of carrying nuclear missiles. This was second such exercise within weeks.

TALKING GRIEVANCES With the central government issuing the one rank one pension notification recently, shouldn’t ex-servicemen call off the OROP agitation instead of threatening to intensify their protest over a few sticking points? Doesn’t returning meda

FOR

Diluted OROP no relief to veterans, will do more harm
The Modi government has released OROP in a diluted form which will do more harm to the soldiers than providing any relief. The major flaw is that this OROP will not be applicable to those soldiers who quit their service pre-maturely due to some reasons. The frequency of revision and fixing of benchmark of pension are other issues. It is a serious anomaly that goes against the post-Kargil military reforms that have helped bring down the average age of field commanders. In seeking a solution to the outstanding issues, appointing yet another committee to look into the grievances will amount to nothing but a travesty of justice.
CAPT AMAR JEET KUMAR, SAS Nagar
Recent OROP notification has several anomalies
The armed forces have always remained apolitical. The veterans only seek to get the OROP in letter and spirit as promised by Narendra Modi as a prime ministerial candidate during the 2014 election campaigning on a number of occasions. The recent OROP notification has several anomalies as highlighted by the veterans, but to no avail. Parliament had also passed the OROP on two occasions — first, during the UPA rule and then by the NDA regime. Even defence minister Manohar Parikkar had allocated a budget of `8,300 crores in February this year for the purpose, but now they are throwing crumbs at ex-servicemen. The truncated OROP will cost the government just `3500 crore.
COLONEL SK SOOD (RETD), Panchkula
Govt’s attitude adding fuel to fire, failed to meet pre-poll promise
Nobody wants to fight the government of the day, forget about the harried veterans. By not meeting the pre-poll promise and not implementing the unambiguous decision of Parliament and the Supreme Court for implementing the recommendations of a committee the NDA leadership has forced the veterans to hit the streets. After lot of dilly dallying and lame excuses for the delay, what has now been dished out is a complete negation of everything that the veterans have been fighting for.
SC LUTHRA, Manimajra
Agitation a symptom of a larger malaise
I believe the OROP agitation is a symptom of a larger malaise, i.e. neglect of the defence forces by successive governments. The defence forces have been systematically downgraded over the period of time. The service chiefs do not have the authority to undertake the responsibilities that they have been charged with. The authority rests with bureaucratic structure of the ministry of defence (MoD), which does not have the requisite professional competence to take decisions on matters related to national security. There is an urgent need for a full and meaningful integration of the service headquarters with the MoD so that the basic principles of management are not violated to the detriment of national security planning, procurement, and execution. The structures give an impression of the soldier being treated as a ‘paid mercenary’ rather than the only professional partner in ensuring national security.
WG CDR JP JOSHI (RETD), Zirakpur
Delay in implementing OROP affecting morale of ex-servicemen
Today’s serving soldier is tomorrow’s veteran. Our demand is parity in pension and that is at no stage a junior in rank and length of service should draw more pension than his senior. If the government wants to resolve this long-standing issue it should do it once and for all. The government knows that the Supreme Court accepted the OROP in1982. Delay on the part of the government in accepting the actual OROP, and implementing it is affecting the morale of the ex-servicemen community. When the government did not pay attention to the OROP demand, protest rallies followed.
COL CT ARASU (RETD), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Government has divided veterans on the issue
The government by announcing the OROP notification has succeeded in dividing the veterans. Some anxious veterans are in a hurry to compromise on the issue. There are people who want to belittle the entire ex-servicemen community. They will have to stand in front of the oneman committee pleading for their case. The government took 30 years to resolve the issue but not to the satisfaction of veterans. The honorable SC has already decided in their favour.
PS BAJWA, via email
Diluted OROP insult to real heroes, govt sending wrong message
It is a matter of shame to the entire country that its war veterans are protesting for their rights. What kind of message we are trying to send across the world? The Centre spent thousands of crores on the Swachh Bharat Mission but when it came to our war veterans they cite shortage of funds. Successive governments have been befooling ex- army officers for the last 40 years. The Centre needs to fulfill their demands. To burn or return the medals will send a wrong message. Medals are conferred on the soldiers for their service and gallantry and returning these is disrespect to the nation.
GAGANDEEP JASSOWAL, Chandigarh
Complete misunderstanding of OROP concept must
I am deeply hurt by what Brig Ravi Bains said on the issue. It is clearly apparent that there is complete misunderstanding of the OROP concept. The veterans have been compelled to launch the agitation. And continue, they will. All we demand are honourable post-retirement considerations for selfless sacrifices and hardships we undergo in the prime of our life. Nearly 95% of these men retire before the age of 40 and majority of them are forced to seek jobs. Political leaders belittle the role played by these men.
COL NIRMAL SINGH (RETD), Panchkula
Modified parity and not OROP
The government’s recent OROP notification cannot be termed real OROP. Right in the beginning, the veterans would be granted pension less than that of their counterparts with the same rank and the length of service. For example, a pre-1996 retiree jawan with 17 years of service gets a pension of `5,196 while a recent retiree gets a pension of `7,605. As per the recent government notification he is likely to get `6,000 approximately which is lower than that of a recent retiree by `1,605 which is considerable. Same would be in the case of all offecers, JCOs and other ranks. This difference would keep increasing till 2018.This is against the very definition of OROP. At best, this can be termed as modified parity.
BRIG JOGINDAR SINGH (RETD), via email
Ex-servicemen’s agitation is more about honour
The ex-servicemen’s agitation even after issuing of notification is more to do with honour and slight meted out to them by the government. The fundamental issue of OROP has been settled. I identify with the fraternity which feels that pension should be equalized every year. Now, it is just a matter of little amount. The future premature retirees are not entitled to OROP. I think that once you are entitled to pension, you should get OROP.
LT GEN HS PANAG (RETD)
Learn to honour the soldier, protest peaceful way to draw attention
If we look at the OROP agitation as a battle between the government and the ex-servicemen then we are on a wrong track. It is a peaceful way of drawing the government’s attention to our 40-year-old demand of one rank one pension, which the present PM promised to fulfill before the general elections in 2014. The protest is more about our honour than money. They are forced to take up such small jobs because they can’t run their households with the meagre pension they get.
COL RD SINGH (RETD), Ambala Cantonment

AGAINST
Soldiers fighting shamelessly for petty considerations
Both sides are lacking open-mindedness with the confrontation acquiring new proportions. It is sad that defence personnel, who having fought for national honours, are now fighting shamelessly for petty material consideration. Old retirees are all for parity in pension with the new ones, but what would they say aabbout theirs having got pension decades more than the others. Moreover, how would defence retirees respond to many of them getting absorbed in lucrative civil positions, and their entitlements for canteen concessions? What if civilians too come agitating for OROP or lucrative adjustments on defence posts? It looks undignified and shameful for defence personnel quarrelling for few bucks.

AGAINST

MPS CHADHA, SAS Nagar
Notification takes care of veterans’ basic demands
The OROP notification the government has come out with takes care of the basic demands of veterans. Other things are also soldier-friendly. The most important issue that has been highlighted is that the pensioners who retired long back stand to benefit more than others and deservingly so. The agitation should be brought to an end immediately and benefits announced be implemented at the earliest. The negotiations can continue in a systematic manner without political meddling into the issue.
PRITHIPAL SINGH, Chandigarh
No rationale behind continuing stir after OROP notification
The common man is unable to understand the reasons behind continuation of agitation by ex-servicemen after the OROP notification by the central government on Diwali eve. Logically speaking, ex-servicemen can approach the commission or committee appointed by the government to hear their grievances, if any.
VD KALRA, Panchkula
Veterans should have waited for outcome first
The OROP agitation launched about six months ago was uncalled as the government had made a statement on accepting the demand. Ex-servicemen as disciplined soldiers needed to trust this, and should have awaited the outcome. Any such decision is not free from complications and not that simple as it may appear to be. It may have repercussions and disturb the existing structured pension pattern creating more problems for the government. Now when OROP has been notified and is being implemented and the government has announced a one-man judicial commission to look into grievances. Therefore, there is no point continuing with the agitation.
DS BANATI, SAS Nagar
Some protesting for publicity
The decades-long struggle of veterans brought results when the NDA government notified OROP implementation on Diwali. No government in the past gave a serious thought to the issue. The UPA-2 announced `500 crore for OROP which was mere tokenism. Innocent veterans came from all parts of country contributed money amounting to crores. It is a holy protest by some unholy veterans at Jantar Mantar for money and self glorification. It should end and the veterans should join talks.
VEDPAL RATHEE VETERAN, Rohtak
Start caring for our paramilitary forces also
With the central govt issuing the one rank one pension notification, I feel that the ex-servicemen should call off their stir, not because they have got what they have asked for but at least a beginning has been made. The matter can be solved amicably. It is high time that we as a nation start caring for our paramilitary forces, state police forces and other departments engaged in the security of our people.
SUMEET SETH ZIRAKPUR
Returning medals disrespect towards nation
The Union government has already implemented the OROP scheme. Returning medals and holding agitations only shows disrespect towards the nation. The ex-servicemen should negotiate with the government in a proper manner on the modifications required by them in the scheme.
BHANU MADAN, Chandigarh
Credit goes to NDA govt for taking OROP decision
The OROP agitation is decades old and the previous governments have been deferring the decision on it. It was the NDA leadership promised to solve it during the General Election and they have done it, even as the grievances remain. Credit must be given where credit is due. Defence people must accept it with all magnanimity. For pending issues, a one-man judicial commission is in place to set the things right. They must behave like true soldiers and gentlemen and stop the agitation.
DEVINDER GARG, Chandigarh
Agitation has not achieved anything
The agitation has not achieved anything. The government has given what it has been saying all along and announced it at a time which suited them. The continued agitation has brought us down in the eyes of the public and alienated the media. I do not understand the purpose of agitation. If we keep agitating, the government will not talk to us. Burning the medals is sacrilege, as there is Ashoka emblem on it.
LT GEN RAJ KADYAN (RETD), ex-army deputy chief
Veterans should withdraw the ongoing agitation
As a veteran I myself feel the pain and anguish over the way the OROP scheme has been handled by the central government. After indulging in lip service for long, the government finally announced a diluted OROP which is unacceptable to the veterans in its present form. Some of the pending issues are of minor nature and can be resolved through a constructive and positive dialogue. The government should take the initiative and start a dialogue with the veterans who should also withdraw the agitation which is losing support and is now becoming counterproductive.
COL ASHOK SHARMA (RETD), Rupnagar

NEUTRAL

Accept benefits and pursue matter through negotiations
Wait for final report by judicial commission
Having fought bravely on all fronts, the ex-servicemen deserved OROP, which would not have come soon had they not resorted to agitation. The returning of bravery medals may not have been necessary but it may have been thought so as the government was delaying OROP on one pretext or the other. However, they should accept the presently offered benefits and continue pursuing the matter by negotiations.
MANJEET SINGH ISHAR, SAS Nagar
Pursue OROP issue with commission, call off protest
The one rank one pension agitation is not about money alone. It is about ensuring justice to a soldier retiring in the prime of his life. Though the soldier has again been shortchanged by an insecure bureaucracy that led to the defence minister announcing a diluted OROP recently, the rallies, street protests and returning of medals should stop now. Such protests don’t behove a disciplined veteran. Our representatives should instead take up the pending demands with the one-man judicial commission. Let us be magnanimous and trust the government.
LT COL NS YADAV (RETD), Panchkula Notwithstanding some shortcomings in the notification issued by the government, OROP is a reality. The definition as enunciated in Koshiyari committee report falls short when the notification talks of pension correction every five years as against every year. The second major issue of no OROP for future pre-mature retirees is presumptuous. The government is playing a psychological game with soldiers who seek pre-mature retirement on genuine grounds.

COL AVNISH SHARMA, Chandigarh
Everyone says that we should not call off the agitation unless all the seven demands are met. The government did not stand by its commitment. It is betrayal of trust. If one cannot trust the Prime Minister of this country whom shall we trust? It (the recent notification on OROP) is totally unacceptable.
Brig Kiran Krishan (retd),
convener, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement The government has accepted the OROP. Whatever they have given we should accept it but we should continue our fight for more. Returning medals will not achieve anything. They are awarded for exceptional service and bravery. Rather than returning medals, we should focus on getting more from the government.
Bhim Sen Sehgal, chairman,
All India Ex-servicemen Association Burning of medals is an offence and insult to their sanctity and value. Service honour and medals are very precious and close to our hearts. We are rather planning to take back our deposited medals, once the OROP issue is settled. Some politically motivated people leading the ex-servicemen are misguiding and misrepresenting the veterans for their personal gains
.It is not about money alone
BRIG BS GILL, Chandigarh
It has to be OROP in the purest form as recommended by the Koshiyari Committee and passed by two Parliaments and directed by the apex court. And it is not about money alone but about restoration of military pride and rightful place in the civil society. There are seven major anomalies in the diluted OROP notification.

This week’s ” Poke Me” invites your comments on “Crossing the Line of Control”. The feature will be reproduced on the edit page of the Saturday edition of the newspaper with a pick of readers’ best comments. So be poked and fire in your comments to us right away. Comments reproduced in the paper will be the ones that support or oppose the views expressed here intelligently. Feel free to add reference links etc, in support of your comments.
Indians love their armed forces so much that it’s impossible for anybody to damage, or even dent, the goodwill they have enjoyed for decades. Unless some insiders set out on a destructive mission. Sadly, a loud and unruly section of retired soldiers seems determined to do just that. Some ex-servicemen are talking of returning bravery medals to extract more money from the taxpayer. Some have proudly told news channels that their campaign is a key reason behind the BJP’s humiliation in the Bihar elections, and that they will campaign against the ruling party in every subsequent election. Now, we all love our soldiers, both serving and retired, because they are efficient, competent and apolitical in a world where the common man is routinely harassed by crooked politicians and authorities such as the politicised police. Not because they want to help politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav who has exploited caste and reservations to rise, unlike the defence forces which have shunned reservations to uphold quality. If you want to return medals, please also return the benefits you got with.
People still see the defence forces as a beacon of hope. But a section is beginning to wonder if soldiers are being too greedy if they are totally disgruntled after the government raised pensions that will cost the taxpayer up to Rs 10,000 crore a year to start with, and much more later.
Perhaps they were happier with previous regimes, when they were marching in step with those heroic, super-tolerant liberals who are returning awards these days to highlight contemporary ‘intolerance’ but did not earlier find it — riots in 2002 Gujarat included — worth such protest.
Perhaps some ex-servicemen think that by accepting part of their demands, the government has conceded territory, and it’s now time to go for the kill. This logic works on the battlefield. If the enemy is in retreat, you can ravage him and his territory. Governance of a complex country like India, on the other hand, does not work this way. The government is not the enemy. It is elected by taxpayers who will foot the bill for generous pensions. The vast majority of these taxpayers lead a humble life with a lot of hardship, no pension, no healthcare, no tax-free alcohol, no golf courses, no fancy clubs or numerous other perks our armed forces enjoy, perhaps a little ungratefully at times.
The common man has so far applauded the services, even though soldiers at times make uncharitable comments about civilians whom they are paid to protect. So far, the taxpayer and the media have supported the forces all the way and looked the other way when respected authorities like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India found glaring irregularities in the way defence land, mostly in prime locations in big cities, is managed, leased out to private parties, or used to build schools or or luxurious golf courses and clubs where civilians can pay and have fun along with officers. The money earned, according to the CAG, is not under parliamentary scrutiny. When the CAG criticised the coal auctions and the petroleum ministry, the media, the common man and politicians made it a national issue. But the same auditor’s comments on the defence forces faded away after a few headlines. This can change if ex-servicemen, best known for discipline, courtesy and protocol, continue their march away from their core competence and keep trying their hand at politics and excessive protests.
The defence forces have already lost some ground. Some people are beginning to ask questions. Why should the government give them cheap alcohol when it is supposed to be injurious to health? Why not charge the full rate and use the extra money for higher pensions?
What are the spectacular successes of the defence forces after the 1971 war? How well have they prevented infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Kashmir? Were some of these outspoken ex-servicemen deployed on the Kargil border before they retired. And if so, what were they doing when the enemy was occupying Indian territory?
How many senior army officials have been declared disabled in the last year of their service, giving them a much higher pension? Why are armymen near the border paid much more than say the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), whose men are positioned to face the first Chinese bullet, miles ahead of the army? Or more than those in the Central Reserve Police Force, India’s largest paramilitary forces?
re all allegations of human rights violations exaggerations?
All of these are complex issues that are not understood by most people. It’s best for the country and its soldiers that the forces don’t soil their own reputation to the point that citizens applaud the next adverse comment by the CAG, and ill-informed television anchors take up these complex questions.
The country needs people’s goodwill towards the army, which they correctly showed with nationwide admiration for the brave Colonel Santosh Mahadik who fell to terrorist bullets in J&K. But still, it would help if ex-servicemen keep their protests within a lakshman rekha. Or line of control, if they prefer that term.

Sanjeev Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 19

Date of implementation: Jan 1, 2016
Beneficiaries: 47 lakh staff, 52 lakh pensioners
In a windfall for Central Government employees, the 7th Pay Commission has recommended a hike of 23.55 per cent in salary and allowances which will entail an expenditure of Rs1.02 lakh crore on the government.
Justice AK Mathur submitted the 7th Pay Commission report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today. The Central Government constitutes the pay commission every 10 years to revise the pay scale of its employees. The Union Cabinet had extended the term of the panel in August by four months, till December. The 6th Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2006.
The Finance Minister said the government would look into the report before its implementation.
The report has implications for 47 lakh employees of the Central Government and 52 lakh pensioners.
While the impact on the fiscal deficit will be 0.65 per cent, putting strain on government finances, analysts say the pay panel bonanza will lift consumption in the economy with increased spending on automobiles, consumer durables, real estate and discretionary items. The minimum pay in the government is recommended to be set at Rs 18,000 per month. The maximum pay has been set at Rs 2.25 lakh per month for apex scale and Rs 2.50 lakh per month for Cabinet Secretary and others at the same level.
The recommended date of implementation is January 1, 2016. The total financial impact for 2016-17 is likely to be Rs 1.02 lakh crore over the expenditure.
The impact on the fiscal side entails an increase of 0.65 per cent points in the ratio of expenditure on to the GDP compared to 0.77 per cent in case of the 6th Pay Commission.
Of the total financial impact of Rs 1.02 lakh crore, Rs 73,650 crore will be borne by the General Budget and Rs 28,450 crore by the Railway Budget. A new pay structure has been recommended by the commission. The report says in light of the issues raised regarding the grade pay structure and with a view to bring in greater transparency, the present system of pay bands and grade pay has been dispensed with and a new pay matrix has been designed. Grade pay has been subsumed in the pay matrix. The status of the employee, which was earlier determined by grade pay, will now be determined by the level in the pay matrix.
The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3 per cent. The report has made the performance benchmarks for MACP more stringent from “good” to “very good”.
The commission proposes against grant of annual increments in case of those employees who are unable to meet the benchmark either for MACP or for a regular promotion in the first 20 years of their service. The Military Service Pay, which is a compensation for the various aspects of military service, will be admissible to the defence force personnel only. As before, Military Service Pay will be payable to all ranks up to and inclusive of Brigadiers and their equivalents.
Short Service Commissioned Officers will be allowed to exit the Armed Forces at any point in time between seven and 10 years of service, with a terminal gratuity equivalent of 10.5 months of reckonable emoluments. They will further be entitled to a fully funded one year executive programme or an MTech programme at a premier institute.
The commission has recommended a revised formulation for lateral entry and resettlement of defence force personnel, which keeps in view the specific requirements of organisation to which such personnel will be absorbed. The panel has recommended abolishing 52 allowances altogether. Another 36 allowances have been abolished as separate identities, but subsumed either in an existing allowance or in newly proposed allowances. Allowances relating to risk and hardship will be governed by the proposed risk and hardship matrix.

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 14
As the battlefield environment gets more information intensive and digitised, the Army has drawn up plans to upgrade its tactical communication systems to handle greater volumes of data transfer, but is unable to proceed ahead as it has not received a suitable response from the industry.
The Army is in the process of introducing high-capacity radio relay (HCRR) systems to provide reliable communication at ranges of 25-40 km in tactical deployment, which will complement and eventually replace the existing communication network that apparently has limited capacity to handle high data volumes.
The Directorate General of Signals at Army Headquarters had issued a request for information (RFI) for procurement of HCRRs in February this year. A few days ago a fresh global RFI was floated for the same which stated the qualitative requirements have not emerged clearly from the details made available by vendors in response to the earlier RFI.
Stating that today’s battlefield is characterised by simultaneous operating of a plethora of hi-tech electronic systems that include communication, non-communication, weapon control, surveillance and intelligence systems, the RFI points out that digital and data communiactions have become more pre-dominated in the battlefield. Since there is a growing need to converge voice, video and data applications on a single platform, a tremendous increase in bandwith is required.

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 10

Ex-servicemen return their medals to Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

Around 200 ex-servicemen today returned their medals to Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav on the eve of Diwali to protest the notification of One Rank One Pension (OROP) in its diluted form. The medals are to be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office.
“Till now, we were fighting for ourselves, but now we will stand up for our serving counterparts,” said Brig (retd) AS Minhas, vice-president, United Ex-Servicemen Front, and Punjab chapter.
The government on Saturday formally notified OROP for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh widows around the country that is expected to cost another Rs 8,000-10,000 crore every year.
The notification was almost identical to what Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on September 5, except for the provision that military personnel, who had earlier opted for premature retirement, would get OROP, but fresh candidates would be kept out of its ambit.
After returning the medals, Col (retd) Balbir Singh, secretary of the body, said, “We are returning these hard-earned awards because we want the government to review its notification. I hope the government pays heed to our demands.”
He further alleged the government had not resolved any of the seven main anomalies pointed out by them, adding the government did not accept their case for “pension equalisation or adjustment” every year.
Ex-Servicemen today also condemned the statement of Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who asked them to accept OROP in its present form.
Raha, who is also the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, said on Monday that all veterans should accept OROP and if anomalies persisted, they could be sorted out in due course of time.
Brig (retd) SS Sandhu said the government and the bureaucracy was going against the financial interests of the defence forces and also lowering their status.
“Despite making repeated assurances in their election manifesto, no government has ever stood up to fight for the rights of the armed forces. Since the present form of OROP will mainly affect serving personnel, the service chiefs should come forward to safeguard the financial interests of their personnel,” said Brig Sandhu.
The veterans have also condemned the Centre’s move of asking a single member commission to review the implementation of OROP.
They have demanded that ex-servicemen be part of the commission. The veterans across the region will hold a Maha Sangram rally on November 15 to raise the issue.

Bone of contention
The government on Saturday formally notified OROP for over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh widows
The notification was almost identical to what the Defence Minister had announced on Sept 5
However, as per the notification, military personnel, who had earlier opted for premature retirement, will get OROP, and others will be kept out of its ambit

There are serious and objectionable anomalies, the most important being the dilution of OROP’s accepted definition, say servicemen.
Calling the latest One Rank One Pension (OROP) notification issued by the Defence Ministry a farce, the ex-servicemen from Maharashtra have decided to return their military medals as a mark of protest. The veterans from the state would start returning their medals to the respective district collectors from November 15, soon after the Diwali celebrations are over. The Defence Ministry on Saturday issued the OROP notification for ex-servicemen with a small change from its earlier notification, which too was rejected by the veterans. This time, the government dropped the controversial clause of excluding the the ex-servicemen — who had sought premature retirement — from OROP.
At the same time, the veterans’ demands like annual adjustment in pensions up to the maximum of the current pensioners and appointment of a committee on the issue were not included in the notification. A statement issued by the Maharashtra Chapter of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) said, “The government’s implementation plan of OROP as declared on Saturday is a big sham. It is not OROP. The Defence Minister had accepted the OROP implementation plan as projected by the United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) and had also cleared the file for notification. The veterans across the nation were absolutely certain that the notification will be as per the assurance.” The statement further said, “Even the announcement on September 5 was nowhere near the OROP as approved by Parliament as recommended by Bhagat Singh Koshiyari Committee. There are serious and objectionable anomalies, the most important being the dilution of OROP’s accepted definition. As per the definition, the pension benefit will be passed on to retired soldiers as and when the review takes place once a year. The government has said that it will be once in five years.” Veterans who are part of the UFESM, which has been formed by coming together of several ex-servicemen’s organisations, have also raised concerns about the one-man commission to look in to the anomalies. The veterans want a five-member commission, three of which will be the Ex-Service Men and one each from judiciary and services. Brig Sharad Luktuke (Retd) of the IESM said, “Veterans in Maharashtra will start returning their medals to the respective collectors from November 15 in protest against the way the government deceived them time and again on the issue. A half page advertisement with PM’s picture as attached appeared in newspapers and it said ‘future enhancements in the rates of pension would be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.’ So, even the PM has not kept his word.” At the national-level too, the veterans have announced that they will return their medals and observe Diwali as a Black Diwali.

New Delhi: The long-pending One Rank One Pension scheme for ex-servicemen was brought into force on Saturday with government issuing a notification that will benefit more than 2.5 million veterans and war widows.

However, the protesting ex-servicemen rejected the notification, saying their main demands have not been accepted and it has become “one-rank-five-pension”.

The notification is almost similar to the announcement made by defence minister Manohar Parrikar on 5 September.

To begin with, pension would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective from 1 July 2014. The veterans had demanded that the period for pension should be fiscal year 2013-14 and not the calendar year. Also, they wanted the scheme to be effective form 1 April instead of 1 July.

The notification said that in future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years, against the demand by ex-servicemen for pension to be revised every two years, if not one.

In his immediate reaction to the notification, Maj. Gen. (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said “the notification will not be acceptable to the rank and file. It is not One Rank One Pension but One Rank Five Pension”.

Another key element of the notification is that the armed forces personnel who opt to get discharged on their request would henceforth not get OROP benefits. “It will be effective prospectively,” defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted. PTI

Valletta (Malta), November 28
— PTI
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has indicated that Pakistan is ready for a dialogue with India without pre-conditions for sustainable peace, according to Pakistani TV channel Geo News. Sharif is said to have given this indication during a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron on the sidelines of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here yesterday.
The channel reported that Sharif said Pakistan intends to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours including India and Afghanistan. Ties have been strained between the two neighbours over border firing and a series of ceasefire violations. Talks between National Security Advisers of the two countries were cancelled in August because of a dispute over the agenda.
India wanted to discuss terror attacks and Pakistan insisted on raising Kashmir.
The Pakistani Prime Minister told Cameron that Pakistan was deeply saddened by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and that his country, itself being a victim of terrorism, could feel the pain of the French people.
The two leaders expressed long-term commitment to work together for greater security and prosperity of their countries.
Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work in partnership for countering the shared threats of terrorism.