West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, 9 August announced a ₹10,000 monthly allowance, free travel in government buses, and free medical assistance at government hospitals for 'Loktantra Senanis' — individuals imprisoned during the Emergency period of 1975–1977. The announcement was made at a felicitation ceremony held at the state secretariat Nabanna in Kolkata.

The Felicitation Ceremony

A total of 325 Loktantra Senanis were honoured at the event, each presented with a copper medal. State Industries and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy was also present at the function. Adhikari further announced that if any honouree recognised in absentia is no longer alive, the benefits will extend to their surviving spouse.

Who Are Loktantra Senanis

'Loktantra Senani', meaning Democracy Fighter, refers to individuals who were imprisoned under laws such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) or the Defence of India Rules (DIR) during the internal Emergency imposed between 1975 and 1977. Adhikari noted that one lakh people were imprisoned across the country during this period, with at least 5,000 in Bengal alone.

'Due to the sacrifices of those who spent their lives in the darkness of jail at that time, the evil attempt to suppress the voice of democracy, parliamentary democracy and voting rights is protected in the country,' Adhikari said at the event.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Committee Announced

On the occasion, Adhikari also remembered the contribution of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, alleging that past administrations had attempted to erase nationalism, patriotism, and traditional culture from public memory. Marking the 125th birth anniversary of Mookerjee, the Chief Minister announced that a special committee will be constituted at Nabanna under the leadership of the Chief Secretary on 13 August.

The committee, Adhikari said, will work to incorporate Mookerjee's ideology and an accurate account of the partition of Bengal into school textbook syllabi — a move that is likely to draw political attention given its ideological dimensions.

Political and Historical Context

The welfare package for Loktantra Senanis mirrors similar schemes in BJP-governed states, where Emergency-era detainees have been recognised as symbols of resistance against the Congress-led government of the time. This is the first such formal recognition by the West Bengal government under Adhikari's administration. The announcement comes as the state government continues to position itself in contrast to the preceding Trinamool Congress-era governance narrative.

With the Syama Prasad Mookerjee committee set to influence school curricula, the decisions taken at Nabanna on Sunday extend well beyond welfare — they signal a deliberate effort to reshape historical memory in Bengal's classrooms.