BJP launches scathing attack on Kamal Nath after Congress-led M.P government halts payment of pension to those detained during Emergency

Weeks after coming to power, Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday, put a hold on payment of pension to those who were detained during emergency under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) Act, a scheme which was launched by the former BJP government in the state. Retaliating to the Congress party's move in the state, several BJP leaders slammed the party on Thursday for stopping the pensions of the people who fought for democracy during Emergency.

When asked about the Congress' move to hold payments of pension of Emergency detainees, former M.P Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan also hit out at the opposition party.

"Many people fought during that time(Emergency) to save the democracy. They have been jailed for months and years and we allocated pensions to these fighters. Now, this(Congress) government has stopped it. It is their government now. What can we do in this?" said Shivraj Singh Chouhan while speaking in the matter. 

Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot also spoke in the matter after honorarium given to those arrested under Maintenance of Internal Security Act during Emergency were put on hold by the Madhya Pradesh government.

"It is injustice with the people who were arrested under the Act during Emergency. I urge M.P CM to continue the honorarium," said Mr Gehlot while speaking to news agency ANI.

READ: Kamal Nath-led Congress M.P Government Suspends Payment Of Pension To Emergency Detainees, BJP Hits Back

Earlier, Union Ministers Rajyavardhan Rathore and Piyush Goyal also lashed out at M.P CM Kamal Nath while reacting to the development. 

Taking it to Twitter on Thursday, BJP leader and Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal hit out at Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, calling him 'Indira Gandhi's third son' for stopping the pension to those 'who fought for democratic values during Emergency'.

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also attacked Kamal Nath, calling him 'one of the greatest cheerleaders of the Emergency' in his tweet.

 

The pension scheme, called Loknayak Jayprakash Samman Nidhi, was started by the BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the state in 2008. It was later enshrined into law. 

Madhya Pradesh government order dated December 29 said the officials have been directed to carry out physical verification of former MISA detainees, and until this exercise is over, the monthly pension of Rs 25,000 should not be paid. It also cited auditors' objections to the scheme. 

The MISA pension costs Rs 70 to 75 crore to the state coffers annually, according to government sources. During the Emergency imposed by the Congress government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi between 1975 to 1977, thousands of people were detained under MISA across the country.

Under the scheme, the initial allowance of Rs 6,000, was given to those who spent at least six months in jail during Emergency. However, the rules of the scheme have been amended four times over the years. As per recent reports, anyone who spent more than a month in jail during the Emergency gets Rs 25,000 a month.

(With agency inputs)