BJD and BJP members on Wednesday demanded in the Assembly that the Government must not include in the Madhubabu Pension Yojana those arrested and jailed during the Emergency period under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Raising the issue as a Point of Order, BJD member Pradeep Maharathy said the Government should withdraw its decision of providing pension to the MISA victims as it would be a sheer disrespect to them.
“Many big leaders like former Chief Ministers Biju Patnaik and Nilamani Routray were arrested under the MISA Act. All arrestees were kept in jail for 18 months. It would be disrespect to them if they are given a meagre amount pension under the Madhubabu Pension Yojana,” said Maharathy.
Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik too demanded that MISA victims should not be included in the pension scheme.