Kolkata, Aug 2026 : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced a monthly allowance of ₹10,000, free travel on government buses and medical treatment at state-run hospitals for those who were imprisoned during the Emergency of 1975-77 and are recognised as ‘Loktantra Senanis’ (Democracy Fighters).
The announcement was made at a programme held at the state secretariat, Nabanna, where Adhikari felicitated 325 ‘Loktantra Senanis’. State Industries and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy was also present at the event. Each honouree was presented with a copper medal in recognition of their contribution to the defence of democratic values.
Announcing the welfare measures, Adhikari said the beneficiaries would receive a monthly allowance of ₹10,000 besides free travel in government buses and medical assistance at government hospitals. He also clarified that the benefits would be extended to the spouses of those honourees who were being recognised posthumously.
The term ‘Loktantra Senani’ refers to individuals who were imprisoned under laws such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and Defence of India Rules (DIR) during the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi between 1975 and 1977.
Recalling the period, Adhikari said a large number of people across the country were jailed during the Emergency for opposing what he described as an attempt to suppress democratic institutions and citizens’ rights.
“One lakh people were imprisoned in the entire country. There were at least 5,000 people in Bengal,” he said, adding that the sacrifices of those who spent years in prison helped safeguard democracy, parliamentary institutions and voting rights in the country.
Adhikari also used the occasion to highlight the contribution of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He alleged that attempts had been made in the past to undermine or erase discussions around nationalism, patriotism and India's traditional cultural heritage.
The Chief Minister said it was necessary to make younger generations aware of Mookerjee’s contributions and historical legacy. He announced that a special committee would be constituted at the state secretariat on August 13 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Mookerjee.
The committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary and will examine ways to incorporate Mookerjee’s ideology and aspects of the history surrounding the Partition of Bengal into school textbooks.
Adhikari said the proposed initiative was aimed at ensuring that students receive greater exposure to historical developments and the contributions of prominent national figures.
The programme also served as an occasion to honour those who faced imprisonment during one of the most controversial periods in India's post-Independence history. By extending financial, transport and healthcare benefits to the ‘Loktantra Senanis’, the state government sought to formally recognise their role in opposing the Emergency and defending democratic freedoms.
