The lokatantra Raksha Manch (lRM) on Friday demanded that the Odisha Government declare the detainees under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and Defence of India Rules Act (DIR) as freedom fighters soon.
States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have considered these detainees at par with the freedom fighters and are giving them pensions and other facilities, informed Manch leaders at a State-level convention held here.
More than 100 such detainees participated in the convention and shared the plights. lRM All India convenor Faridullah Khan briefed them about the facilities and recognition extended to Emergency detainees in various States. In Odisha, 408 persons were detained under the MISA and 792 were rounded up under the DIR. Former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik was such a detainee, they informed.