Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM Chairman 262, Sector-17A, Gurgaon 122 001 Mobile-9811226676 rajkadyan@yahoo.

com

IESM/OROP/2011 Dear Honble Congress President,

17 October 2011

I write this in connection with the long pending demand of one rank one pension (OROP). It is a simple demand that says two defence pensioners who have retired from the same rank after equal length of service, should get the same pension, irrespective of their date of retirement. The demand is based on the principle of equity and justice. OROP has been on the simmer for nearly three decades. It gathered fresh momentum in 2008 after the 6th pay Commission report came out. Faced with government obduracy the veterans were compelled to go public with their demand. In frustration they have had to even deposit their medals with their Supreme Commander. They intend to continue their struggle till OROP is sanctioned. There are over two million Defence veterans in the country. Each one of them, without exception, supports the demand for OROP. The serving personnel, as future veterans, also support OROP though rules forbid them from expressing it openly. OROP has been repeatedly recommended by different Parliamentary Standing Committees. Several political parties have lent support to the demand; some States have even passed resolutions in their Assemblies to this effect. Many individual Members of Parliament cutting across Party lines have also expressed their support in private. All this leads to the inevitable inference that only the Congress-led Central government is stonewalling the demand. OROP evokes strong sentiments among the affected. It is only natural that the issue would influence the voting choice of present and future veterans, as also of their families, relatives and of their influence groups both in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections. I urge you to consider this and take a call. With best regards, Yours sincerely,

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan Smt Sonia Gandhi President Indian National Congress 10 Janpath

New Delhi