In one of the most shocking and embarrassing stories of our times -- Shalini Jetly -- the widow of Indian Air Force's star stunt pilot late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly might approach the Indian Prime Minister for help. This after her appeals to various channels, including India's Defense Minister A.K. Antony, evoking no concrete responses.
On Feb 28 (today) Jetly's family members returned from Hindon after receiving the family pension. Now, hopefully, it would come very month. His insurance and PF is already in, but gratuity, leave encashment and disability pension are yet to come. The IAF is yet to make up its mind regarding Shalini's plea for a job at TAFS Subrato Park, New Delhi. Though at the mandatory press meet during Aero India 2011, the IAF chief P.V. Naik replied to the blogger's query in detail (this was the longest answer he gave), nothing seems to have moved even now.
On Feb 28 (today) Jetly's family members returned from Hindon after receiving the family pension. Now, hopefully, it would come very month. His insurance and PF is already in, but gratuity, leave encashment and disability pension are yet to come. The IAF is yet to make up its mind regarding Shalini's plea for a job at TAFS Subrato Park, New Delhi. Though at the mandatory press meet during Aero India 2011, the IAF chief P.V. Naik replied to the blogger's query in detail (this was the longest answer he gave), nothing seems to have moved even now.
Now, the family members confirm that they are taking their plea to Prime Minister. "We are tired. We are exhausted. Everyone is saying that we are being cheated. Our next hope is Prime Minister. We are sure he will understand our pain," a close relative of Shalini, helping the family during the hour of crisis, tells the blogger.
The IAF is said to have given an oral assurance to Shalini that they would offer her an ad-hoc appointment at TAFS, but the family members say that that doesn't serve the purpose. "We have been living on the edge for the last 4 years and don't want to continue like that the rest of our lives. We only keep getting calls from IAF LO and nothing concrete in writing. We have a sense of feeling that we are being taken for a ride," he said.
In a related development, the PA to a Member of Parliament has written to the blogger asking for the details of Jetly and his family and hope the fight for Justice for Jetly will take a decisive turn now.
During the just-concluded Aero India, many MoD Babus and some 'friends' in IAF tried their best to persuade the blogger to give up the Justice for Jetly campaign. Even some of Jetly's very close friends did some polite talking justifying IAF's position and what could have gone behind the delay in getting the family their dues. While it was a very poor PR effort to convince the blogger, what's more shocking is the pace at which things move in MoD.
