Guwahati: The Assam Government gave pensions to 91 persons who served imprisonment during the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975. The Assam Cabinet meeting held on April 19, decided to pay a monthly pension of Rs 15 thousand to the Loktantra Senani, who served imprisonment for protesting against the Emergency. In the event of the death of a Loktantra Senani, his wife or his unmarried daughter will be entitled to a monthly pension.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma felicitated 301 Loktantra Senani and their relatives and presented pension papers to 91 of them at a program organised on June 25 at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that those who resisted the declaration of Emergency and endured intolerable pain and sacrificed immensely to strengthen the democratic spirit are the sources of inspiration for the present generation. In Indian democracy, the day when the Emergency was clamped was regarded as very significant. He said that June 25 1975, is considered a ‘black day’ in Indian democracy. On this day, based on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared Emergency. The day is regarded as the black day in Indian democracy because it was declared flouting all democratic principles and norms. However, braving the high-handedness of the then Prime Minister, lakhs of Indians raised their voice for subverting democracy and in return, they ended up in prison.
Even in Assam also, thousands of people raised their voices against the despotism of the then Prime Minister, jumped on the street and showed their resentment for imposing Emergency. He said that it was because of the stiff resistance of the staunch believer of democracy; after a period of one year and nine months, on March 21, 1977, democracy was restored in the country. The Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that the Loktantra Senani, who fought hard for the return of democracy, had to wait a lot. On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal, Assam decided to felicitate the Loktantra Senani.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Emergency imposed in 1975 was not the result of any treason. It was imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to fulfil her personal political interests. He said that in the name of national security, the then Prime Minister used the Emergency to act against the forces which she believed to be inimical to her. Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that during the Emergency, newspapers were gagged. In the name of Emergency, the then Congress Government arrested several people in Assam and sent them to prison.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal, MP Queen Oja, Loktantra Senani and their family members and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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