Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis on Friday told the Assembly that the state government is mulling over bestowing the status of ‘freedom fighter’ to dissidents who were detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency. Those applicable would get benefits accorded to freedom fighters, including pension.
Currently, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh governments provide such benefits, sources.
Responding to a question by former revenue minister Eknath Khadse, a senior BJP leader, Mr Fadnavis said the government is collecting information from all of the districts in this regard. “We have already prepared a resolution in this regard, and we will put it up for approval in the ensuing Cabinet meeting,” he added.
Raising the issue in the Lower House, Mr Khadse said that several states are giving pension to those who were detained under MISA. “Several senior leaders, particularly from the Opposition camp, were detained under MISA.
It was like a second freedom movement, and hence the government should consider them as freedom fighters and provide them all benefits, including pension, that a freedom fighter gets,” he had insisted. The BJP leader also reminded Mr Fadnavis that he (the CM) had assured the people that he would give such benefits and he should clarify his stand in this regard.
