15 December 2015

Letter to Editor : Why blame the Veterans for returning the Medals.

Sir ,
kindly consider publishing the following article in Guest Coloumn of your esteemed news paper.

INSULT TO NATION


This refers to articles "Insult to Nation" published in the Htivada on 14th and 20th November 2015.
I would like to advice all the scribes who feel that the Veterans of the Armed Forces are doing wrong by returning the medals ,  to see the biographical movie based on the life and works of Dr Prakash Baba Amte , Nana Patekar has given a steling performance as Dr Prakash Baba Amte in this movie. 
May be after watching this movie , all those critical of Veterans , may understand one of the underlying reasons why Dr Prakesh Baba Amte , more than 40 years back wanted to return the award and medal of Padmshree , and now the Armed Forces Veterans are returning their medals for the same reason.

For those who have not seen the movie or know the reason why Dr Prakesh Baba Amte , wanted to return the award and medal of Padmshree , here is little background info .

The Advasis , for their survival had to hunt wild animals. Any time their victim had very young ones they were given to Dr Amte. He loved these gifts and raised them with love and care . The animals in his care included leopards, sloth bears, snakes, birds, deer, owls, crocodiles, hyenas and monkeys.Movie shows a Forest Official coming to check the numbers, types and condition of these animals . As this official has been named , what is shown must be true. As per what is shown in the movie, level of the knowledge of this Government Forest Official was so pathatic that he did not know the difference between a Leopard and a Tiger . Did not know how to spell "deer ", which he is shown writing as " dear ".  Even after a gap of more that 40 years the state of knowledge level of Govt Officials has not improved mainly because merit has been sacrificed at the altar of vote bank politics , BUT I digress . Back to the Govt Official . The fellow feels slighted when these mistakes are pointed out and some remark made by Dr Amte. He vows to take revenge . In due course government order is issued stating that keeping of wild animals by private citizens is against the law and all the Animals in Dr Amte's care must be transferred to various zoos in the state . Dr Amte is greatly hurt and disturbed as he felt that the animals raised by him with so much love and care will not get the same love and care  in the zoos and may ill treated , All efforts to prevent this failed . He points out the irony that one of the paras in his citation for the award of Padmshree was in praise and appriciation of his animal love and his care of these animals. He feels that the praise heaped on him and the award were false and did not mean what was written in citation .In desperation and to show his protest he calls for a press conference to announce his decision to return Padmshree. The media and poulation  must have stood firmly behind Dr Amte ,  ( not able to get the news coverage of that time) ,  the Government had to bow to the media and the public openion . The Govet Officials worked overtime to find a rule that a private citizen could operate an animal orphnage and animal care center .  It was under this rule  Dr Amte allowed to keep all his animals .

The treatment which has been mated out to Defence Forces in general and Veterans in paruiculr , since 1947 when the OROP was stopped , The Pension reduceed from 70% -75%  to 30% , in implementing various Central Pay Commissions , not implementing recommendetions of Parliamentry Committee recommendations , not implementing The Supreme Court directive to restore OROP , not implementing decision of the Parliament , not by one but by two governments , to implement OROP and twice afte making provisionin two budgets for implementing OROP when it was not done , sent very loud and clear signals to the Defence Forces and the Veterans that all the "Vijay Divas" , 1965 Operations falicitations , all the functions to facilitate the Armed Forces personnel by the Government and the politicians , all the tears spilled at Amar Jawan Jyoti are crocodile tears . All the honours and the Medals bestowed are with totally false sentiments and in reality not meant seriously . So the Veterans decided to return honour Medals given under false pretences

Government had to bow to intentions of Dr Prakash Baba Amte not only due to his international fame and stature but also more so because the Media and the citizens were solidly behind him . UNFORTUNATELY due to some sinister design or reasons known to the powers that be , the media instead of supporting the Armed Forces and The Veterans is totally ignoring them and their cause . Due to general ignorence about matters Militery due to nil coverage in media ,  there is hardly any support from the citizens as well.

The Forces and the Veterans are greately saddened by This attitude of the Government , The Media and the Citizens . Even returning of the medals does not seem to work.
One day all will rue what is happening today when the liberty and freedom of the people and the sovereignty  of the Nation will be in grave danger .

God save the Nation .

PM Velankar .

No comments:

Post a Comment