Highlighting the importance of democracy, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that those who went to jail during Emergency were the real heroes as they risked their lives so that the future generation could live in peace.
Dedicating a documentary "Aap atkal ke mahanayak (Hero of Emergency)" to people at a function organised by Uttar Pradesh loktantra Senani Samiti in lucknow on Tuesday, Yadav said that those leaders who protested the imposition of Emergency were ideology-driven.
The documentary is based on the life and struggle of former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is also the national chief of Samajwadi party.
"Those leaders believed in freedom of speech and when the then government tried to muzzle people’s voice they rose in protest," Yadav said while addressing a congregation.
He said that his government always respected people who went to jail during Emergency. They were termed as loktantra Senani.
"Our government has revived the pension scheme of loktantra Senani that was launched by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government. The financial condition of the state government is not that sound. Once we come out of the red, the government will increase the pension of loktantra
Senanis," the Chief Minister declared.
later, the 45-minute documentary on Mulayam Singh Yadav was screened. The show was marred by electricity failure. Chief Minister had to walk-off in a huff after the officials failed to restore power for almost five minutes.