Cashless health facility of Rs 5 lakh per year for Loktantra Senanis soon: CM Yogi
Arrangements are to be made for the last rites of Loktantra Senanis with full state honours
CM Yogi says honouring Loktantra Senanis is a matter of pride
Loktantra Senanis recount their ordeal from the stage; nails were pulled out in jail, forced sterilisation was carried out
Lucknow, June 25: On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Emergency, observed as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas', Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured the Loktantra Senanis in Lucknow for their role in safeguarding democracy.
The Chief Minister also announced that the state government will soon provide a cashless health facility of Rs 5 lakh per year to Loktantra Senanis. Wishing the Loktantra Senanis good health and a long life, the Chief Minister said that arrangements are also being made to ensure that their last rites are conducted with full state honours.
CM Yogi said, "It was a matter of pride to honour the Loktantra Senanis today. They have their own pain. They endured the sufferings of imprisonment to save democracy. Therefore, when a government committed to democratic values came to power in the state, the programme to honour the Loktantra Senanis was taken forward."
He added, “There are 3,780 Loktantra Senanis and 1,461 of their dependants in the state. Since 2018, the government has been providing an honorarium of Rs 20,000 every month to Loktantra Senanis and, after their demise, to their dependants. In addition, Loktantra Senanis or their successors (husband or wife) have been provided the facility of free travel, along with one attendant, on all categories of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses across the state. Loktantra Senanis are also being provided free medical treatment at government hospitals.”
CM Yogi informed, "The government is now going to provide Loktantra Senanis with a cashless health facility of Rs 5 lakh per year. Along with this, the government is also making arrangements for the last rites of a Loktantra Senani to be conducted with full state honours after his or her demise. The coming generations will always remember that governments honour those who work in the interest of the nation and democracy."
During the programme, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured Loktantra Senanis. Those honoured included Bharat Dixit, Gaya Prasad Sonkar, Ram Singh Kushwaha (Hardoi), Vidya Ram Verma (Hardoi), Ajay Singh (Barabanki) and Om Prakash Gupta (Sitapur), who had endured imprisonment for six months.
On the occasion, Loktantra Senani Bharat Dixit said, "There was no reason to impose the Emergency. The Congress only wanted to remain in power by any means. At the time of our arrest during the Emergency, our clothes were torn. Even after that, we participated in the Satyagraha, following which severe atrocities were committed against us."
Loktantra Senani Vidya Ram Verma said, "Even after so many years, whenever I think about the Emergency, my heart becomes emotional. Except for the CPI, atrocities were committed against all other parties. My house was surrounded at night as if they had come to arrest a dacoit. The nails of prisoners were pulled out in jail, and forced sterilisation was carried out. Today, no one can even imagine the kind of atrocities committed by the government of that time."
