PHAGWARA: The Emergency Veterans Struggle Committee of Punjab has urged the state government to raise the monthly pension for Emergency-era detainees and activists to ₹20, 000, aligning it with neighboring states such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.EVSC President Girish Sharma and General Secretary Narinder Poddar made this demand while addressing a press briefing on Monday.
The leaders announced that June 25, marking the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, will be observed as “Constitution Murder Day.” To commemorate the day and educate the public, an exhibition will be held at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi, starting at 10 a.m. The event will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. A similar program is also scheduled in Amritsar.
Recalling the imposition of the Emergency, Sharma and Poddar condemned the actions taken by the then Congress-led central government, stating that the move was nothing less than an “assault on the Indian Constitution.” They noted that the crackdown on civil liberties included mass arrests of opposition leaders, censorship of the press, and suspension of democratic rights.
"Punjab played a leading role in resisting the Emergency, " Sharma said, "but ironically, it is in Punjab where Emergency veterans are being ignored today." He further highlighted that while many political leaders who were jailed during that time went on to become legislators, MPs, and ministers, the common people who bore the brunt of state repression are now struggling in old age without adequate financial support.
Currently, the Punjab government provides a monthly pension of only ₹2, 000 to Emergency veterans, which the committee describes as “paltry and disrespectful.” In contrast, states like Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have recognized these individuals as freedom fighters and offer significantly higher pensions, up to ₹20, 000 per month. Even the Delhi government is reportedly considering a substantial hike in pension for such veterans.
The committee leaders also pointed out administrative delays, stating that dozens of pension cases remain pending with district deputy commissioners across Punjab, with little attention from the bureaucracy. “If this apathetic attitude continues, ” Sharma warned, “future generations may hesitate to sacrifice for democracy in times of crisis.”
The committee urged the Punjab government to immediately revise its policy and announce a monthly pension of ₹20, 000 for all recognized Emergency veterans. “These individuals deserve dignity and basic financial security in their twilight years, ” said Poddar. “They stood up for the Constitution when it was under attack — now the state must stand up for them.”