Perplexed by Maha Govt’s Move: Activists Reject Emergency Pension

“Perplexed by Maharashtra Govt’s Move”, say activists as they reject pension for those jailed during emergency.

Activists Amarendra Dhaneshwar (L) and Vinay Hardikar ( R) are among the many activists who have refused the special pension.

(Photo altered by The Quint)

Maharashtra Government’s decision to offer special pension to those who were jailed during Emergency between 1974-77, has not gone down well with all the beneficiaries. Just days after Relief and Rehabilitation minister Chandrakant Patil declared that Rs 10,000 would be paid to those who were behind bars for over a month and Rs 5,000 who spent less than a month in jail during Emergency, many activists entitled to the pension, declined it.

I politely declined to accept the offer of pension because this struggle against emergency took place 43 years ago. 70 percent of the people who were in jail, whether they actually struggled or not against the emergency have already passed away. It doesn’t make much sense to offer pension to survivors. People like me had done this looking at some ideals & principles which we wanted to uphold.

Amarendra Dhaneshwar, activist 

Newspaper clips on the arrest of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani and other senior leaders of the Opposition in 1975.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/IndiaHistorypic)

‘Pension Scheme Will Strain The Exchequer’

Activist and singer, Amarendra Dhaneshwar was just 23 when he was jailed while shielding leaders of the opposition who raised their voice against the Emergency. Dhaneshwar spent 15 months in Mumbai’s Arthur road jail back then. But he believes the Maharashtra Government’s decision will only put a strain on the public exchequer.

One can only say that it is a move that perplexes me. I don’t know why they are doing it. It means burning a big hole in the exchequer, that too when they are complaining that they don’t have funds for implementing social welfare schemes. You are talking about economic and fiscal discipline, but this will burn a huge hole in the exchequer.

Amarendra Dhaneshwar, activist  

George Fernandes in shackles during Emergency.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/IndiaHistorypic)

‘Special Pension Unethical’

Dhaneshwar’s sentiments are shared by activist and writer Vinay Hardikar who called the Fadnavis Government’s decision to provide the special pension unethical and that it could have a political motive.

There is a political side, I believe, to this announcement, which seems to be a part of the BJP president’s Sampark For Samarthan drive. I don’t want to fall for that. The Shiv Sena, which had supported Indira Gandhi’s decision to impose Emergency, is now a partner in the state government, so this offer of pension is unethical.

Vinay Hardikar, activist 

Hardikar was lodged in Yerwada jail near Pune in January 1976 after courting arrest but he believes he has received closure after Indira Gandhi lost the March 1977 elections.

1977: The Shah Commission was appointed by the Govet to probe excesses committed during Emergency.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/IndiaHistorypic)

“I wanted Emergency to be quashed and democracy restored. I wanted the late Indira Gandhi to be politically punished for the excesses she committed on the Indian Democracy. Both my aims were achieved in the Lok Sabha election of March 1977. For me, this shameful chapter was over then. There is no need for any compensation after 40 years," he said.

Hardikar sought further clarification on the eligibility of people who were incarcerated, to claim the money.

There were also workers of communal organisations like Muslim League and Anand Marg. Some Naxalites were also detained. Are they also entitled to this generous pension? RSS workers outnumbered others who were jailed during Emergency. May be the government wants to reward them in cash. Is this ethical since the RSS claims to be a non-political organisation?

Vinay Hardikar, activist

Maharashtra is not the first state to announce a special pension scheme for activists who were jailed during emergency. States like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have already implemented a similar scheme.