MP Emergency victims get ‘honorarium’

The Government admitted that identifying the beneficiaries after more than three decades of the “black chapter in Indian democracy” was proving difficult, but said it was ready to go the extra mile. Committees, consisting the minister in charge of the district, Collector and SP, would identify district-level beneficiaries and organise functions by the next Independence Day.

Those who spent more than six months in jail would get a pension of Rs 6,000 per month and those jailed between three and six months would get Rs 3,000. Spouses of the beneficiaries who are not alive would get half the amount. Beneficiaries would also get free medical treatment.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who himself qualifies for pension because he was jailed at the age of 16, insisted that it was not pension but an “honourarium” and objected to the use of “Misabandi” saying they should be called “torchbearers of democracy”.

The CM showered rose petals on the beneficiaries to the backdrop of songs, including a poem penned by Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was behind bars. Later, Chouhan recalled the excesses committed during the Emergency. “The freedom fighters who fought against the British were aware of their jail term and penalty but not those jailed during the Emergency,” he said. Other speakers recalled how innocent were arrested and jailed without any provision for appeal.

Former CM Sunderlal Patwa said a committee, formed under him after the party’s conclave in Sanchi, had recommended that victims of the Emergency be honoured.