Within a week of the OROP announcement, the unity of the ex-servicemen community appears to be in tatters with two factions blaming each other for politicking over the sensitive issue.



The open factional fight has put a big question mark on the turnout for the ex-servicemen rally planned in Jantar Mantar in the national capital on September 12.



On Wednesday, Lt Gen Balbir Singh (rtd), one of the key negotiators, announced exit of his group from the agitation and links with his co-negotiator Maj Gen Satbir Singh (rtd) .



The United Front of Ex-Servicemen, an umbrella organisaion, issued a statement on Thursday that it expelled Indian Ex servicemen Movement and all its officials including Satbir from the UFESM for financial impropriety and gross indiscipline.“IESM and its officials including the likes of Maj Gen Satbir Singh (rtd) were working for self promotion,” says a statement from the UFSEM. They alleged there is no account of the donations and Satbir did not brief the UFSEM on the discussions that he had with the officials from the Prime Minister's Office.



The UFSEM claims the Sept 12 rally in Delhi has been postponed, but the Satbir faction insists that the rally is on. While Lt Gen Balbir (rtd) and his followers want to wait till the government comes up with the official order on the one rank one pension issue, Maj Gen Satbir's (rtd) group not only plans to hold a major rally in Delhi but also want to organise another one in poll bound Bihar.



In a media statement, some of veterans alleged that those who wish to stay away from the September 12 rally have a strong RSS link and dont want to trouble the BJP by continuing with the agitation in the run up to the Bihar election. They are sticking to their plan on holding the September 12 rally.“During the rally, suitable commendations will be made to those who assisted in ensuring the agitation did bring some results... not all of them on expected lines though,” says a statement issued by Col Anil Kaul, who is perceived to be from Satbir's group.



Exservicemen Joint Action Front Sanjha Morcha said, “It was unanimously decided by representatives of the constituent organisations that the UFESM should refrain from any further protest rallies.”

