BHOPAL:The
Kamal Nath government in
Madhya Pradesh has suspended pension to over 2,500 people who were imprisoned during the Emergency under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) and DIR (Defence of
India Rules), saying the beneficiaries will be “verified” and a new process formulated.
The decision has raised eyebrows as Congress had imposed the Emergeny and Kamal Nath was seen to be close to
Sanjay Gandhi in those days. An incensed BJP has threatened to move court.
In 2008, the then
Shivraj Singh Chouhan government had started a scheme providing a monthly pension of Rs 25,000 to ‘Loktantra Senanis’, a term given to MISA and DIR detainees. There are 2,604 such beneficiaries in the state.
TOI had on December 22 reported that the Congress government plans to withhold pension to the detainees. On December 29, the general administration department issued a circular to district collectors and divisional commissioners saying, “There were reports of overspending of Loktantra Senani Samman Nidhi... To regularise the funds, it is now mandatory to table a new bill in the assembly and seek excess funds. This calls for a new proper, transparent process and scrutiny of MISA detainees.
For this, separate instructions will be released. Till then, it has been decided to suspend disbursement of pension of MISA detainees.” Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said the MISA pension hadn’t been stopped and the aim was to identify ‘fake beneficiaries’, if any. “However, officials confirmed to TOI that instructions have been issued to all district treasuries and banks to put payments on hold.