Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd, 27 Oct : An Appeal for Black Diwali is made to Ex-Servicemen Community & Soldiers against the Pay Commissions for gross injustice, discriminations & neglect. We must express our unity & solidarity .Against anti Defence, ESM & anti National forces who are causing demoralization & weakening the very back bone. As such, we have nothing to cheer about or greet on this Diwali. This is anguished & expressed by all ESM Associations/ parties of Pb mainly; ESM League, Malwa ESM & Majha ESM Human right Associations, ESM Org of Patiala, Ludhiana, Jallandhar, Rashtrya Raksha Dal, and ESM org of Tricity including All India Def Brotherhood, PBORs Org, ESM Grievances Cell, League, Veteran’s Core Group & so on, under the banner of Indian ESM Movement (IESM).
3. We also request ESM appointments/ Officials to avoid Diwali celebrations and resign as mark of protest. It was requested by a retired Lt General to all ESM Governors.
4. MOD has issued orders through Army Navy & Air Force HQrs to register Soldier’s Vote at the place of duty. All Soldiers & their families will be voting at all the military stations & Cantonments of India during the next elections. This is a good development & our one of the demand is met. Bureaucracy have been resisting so far. Now, we can elect our own ESM candidates, who will speak for us in the Assemblies & Parliament. Therefore, we like to find suitable ESM candidates only in Chandigarh & other places.
5. Law & Order situation is going bad to worse. We (IESM) have noticed that the Depts which are without IAS are doing much better. Bureaucrats lack sense of duty & discipline and neglecting Forces & ESM. They are not professionals and misgoverning various depts in the Country. Corruption & insecurity is on the increase, where as their own accountability & reliability is no where. That’s why Army is being called for every minor problem. If that be so, then it would be appropriate to hand over the Country to the most loyal, responsible & professional Defence Chiefs. They will run the state much better & most economically w/o IAS, like many other Countries around us. This statement has the approval of our high command (IESM) too.