Mulayam announces Rs 500 a month 'honorarium' for Emergency prisoners

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday announced Rs 500 a month as "honorarium" besides free travel in roadways buses for political prisoners of the state detained under Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the 1975 Emergency.

• 'It was the darkest period of Indian democracy, a blot'

He made the announcement while addressing a meeting of MISA and Defence of India Rules Act, 1975, detainees from the state at a function in Lucknow to felicitate them.

Likening the detainees to freedom fighters, Yadav said he would be be known as loktantra senani (fighters for democracy).

The MISA and DIR detainees would be paid Rs 500 per month with effect from April 1, 2006, he said.