Suvendu Adhikari announces Rs 10,000 monthly pension for 325 emergency-era protesters

West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 for 325 people, who were jailed while protesting in the Emergency in 1975. Adhikari also announced free travel on government buses and free medical assistance at government hospitals for the “Loktantara Senani'.

The state government has identified 325 persons who protested and were imprisoned during the Emergency for the Paschimbanga Loktantra Senani Samman, the Chief Minister said.

Addressing a programme at the state secretariat, Adhikari said those imprisoned during the Emergency had faced hardships while defending democracy.


"The brave soldiers had to endure a lot of suffering. The new state government stands on the ideals and today’s government has been formed on the foundations,” CM said.

He said the new government was founded on the ideals of those who had made sacrifices for the country.

“In our second war for freedom, those who in 1975, endured inhuman atrocities, kept their heads held high and fought, and today, towards a developed India, have transformed,” Adhikari said.

“Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee's thought, which was foundation of our ideology, on which we have built our present government. I will not talk about the previous governments, especially during the 34 years of Communist rule and 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule. But there were attempts to erase Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and erase the history of the 20th June 1947 Partition and the homeland of Bengali Hindus,” Adhikari said.

The next generation must know nationalism, patriotism, Indian culture and Sanatan culture.

West Bengal government took oath on May 9 and completed three months. Speaking about the work done by the Bengal government, CM said that during the present government's tenure, priority was given to the BSF and fencing work for security of the state and country at the border, and weed out the “infiltrators” from this West Bengal, anti-Goons laws implemented and the politics of appeasement was stopped.

“Honouring the sacrifice of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, and keeping this West Bengal creation, his contribution, his 125th birth anniversary on 6th July was declared as a general holiday in West Bengal, and foundation stone laying of his 125 feet tall statue was done,” he added.

“A committee has been formed to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, and the chairman of this committee is the Chief Minister, and the member secretary is the State Chief Secretary, whose first meeting will be held on the 13th of this month at this secretariat. We want to include Mookherjee’s contribution in the syllabus of our textbooks, publishing the research documents in the form of books, and we want the next generation to learn about him,” CM said.

“Prime Minister has given two mantras, which I have accepted as Chief Minister. "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" —not just development, our culture has to be preserved.

He urged the Loktantra Senani Sangha to provide advice to Bengal government. “We will take the advice which is possible,” he said