The Government of Odisha will provide monthly pension and free healthcare for people who were jailed during the Emergency of 1975. The state’s new Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has declared that those arrested and imprisoned during the Emergency under Maintenance of Internal Security Act, Defence of India Rule or Defence and Internal Security of India Rules, will be given a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 along with other benefits from 1st January, 2025. The CM has described the Emergency as the “darkest period” of Independent India.
Along with pension, the state government will also provide free medical treatment to these people. Pension and medical facilities will be available to the above category of people who are still alive as of January 1, 2025, as per a notification issued by the state home department.
Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha
“The state government, after careful consideration, have been pleased to provide pension and other benefits to the persons detained in jail in state of Odisha under MISA (The Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971) or DIR (The Defence of India Rules) or DISIR (The Defence and Internal Security of India Rules) during the period from 25.06.1975 to 21.03.1977,” reads an official notification issued by the home department.
By implementing this scheme, Odisha joins states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Assam, which already provide pension to Emergency detainees.
BJP’s political move against 1975’s Emergency
This comes within a year of the Bharatiya Janata Party assuming power in the state replacing Naveen Patnaik of the Biju Janata Dal who was the longest-serving Chief Minister in Odisha’s history, incumbent from 2000 to 2024. The Odisha government’s move is also part of the political agenda of the BJP, which has always been vocal in criticising the Emergency.
In July last year, the Government of India declared 25th June as “Constitution Murder Day,” to remember the turbulent period of Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Union Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement, highlighting its significance in honoring those who endured hardships during that period.
“On 25 June 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, showing her dictatorial mindset, strangled the soul of Indian democracy by imposing an emergency in the country,” Shah had stated on social media platform X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975 as a “Black spot on the Constitution” of India. “Tomorrow is the 25th of June. For those dedicated to upholding the dignity of our Constitution and who believe in Bharat’s democratic traditions, the 25th of June is an unforgettable day. Tomorrow marks 50 years since a dark chapter was written into India’s democracy. The new generation of Bharat must never forget how the Constitution was completely disregarded, torn apart, and the country was turned into a prison, with democracy utterly suppressed,” PM Modi had remarked in June last year.
Emergency in India, June 1975 – March 1977
On 25th June, 1975, then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, imposed Emergency and arrested many Opposition leaders. The Indira Gandhi government imposed Emergency citing breakdown of the law and order situation of the country owing to massive protest by the opposition parties alleging corruption by the Congress regime. Hundreds of Indian citizens were imprisoned in various jails across the country for opposing the Emergency between 25th June, 1975 and 21st March, 1977.
In July last year, the Government of India declared 25th June as “Constitution Murder Day,” to remember the turbulent period of Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Union Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement, highlighting its significance in honoring those who endured hardships during that period.
