The Delhi government has announced to give pension to MISA prisoners who were jailed during the Emergency. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the previous governments did not give relief to these fighters, but her government will honour them. Like other states, now democracy fighters will get pension in Delhi too.
The administration led by Rekha Gupta has made a significant declaration in Delhi. The Delhi government revealed that political detainees imprisoned during the Emergency will soon receive pensions. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta handed out appointment letters to the victims of the anti-Sikh riots at an event at the Secretariat.
During the event, the CM introduced a plan to initiate pensions for MISA prisoners incarcerated during the Emergency. He stated that the BJP government in Delhi will recognize political detainees from the Emergency period and provide them with pensions.
What did CM Rekha Gupta say?
Reports indicate that the Delhi Chief Minister stated that former administrations failed to provide assistance to those imprisoned for months to safeguard democracy during the country's Emergency. "Our government has chosen to grant pensions to democracy fighters," he declared. Rekha Gupta added that similar actions are being undertaken by several other state governments.
Emergency was imposed in 1975
In 1975, Indira Gandhi's administration declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution. During this period, individuals who criticized the government were incarcerated. Numerous leaders and activists affiliated with various political parties were detained under the MISA Act and imprisoned. Subsequently, non-Congress governments in several states began providing pensions to MISA detainees.
MISA prisoners getting pension in these states
Following the BJP's rise to power in Odisha, a January announcement revealed that freedom fighters would receive Rs 20,000 monthly. Meanwhile, in March, the Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assemblies approved a bill granting pensions to MISA detainees. Earlier, in February, the Haryana government raised the pension to Rs 20,000 per month. Similar pensions are provided in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. Democracy fighters in Delhi will now also receive Samman Nidhi, akin to other states.