Democracy is a way of life, not just a system of government. This was stated by CM Vishnu Dev Sai at the ‘Emergency Memorial Day’ programme. He said that the freedom that we are experiencing today has been paid for by democracy fighters who suffered torture, humiliation and spent years in jails. The struggles and sacrifices of these fighters are a source of inspiration for every generation and it is our duty to preserve their memories.
CM Vishnu Dev Sai appealed to the anti-democratic forces to remain alert and firmly uphold the democratic values. He recalled that in independent India during the Emergency, fundamental rights of people were taken away, voices of artists were suppressed and freedom of expression was guarded. He said that his late father Shri Narhari Prasad Sai had also spent 19 months in jail during that period, and his experiences are still shocking.
On the occasion, CM Vishnu Dev Sai felicitated democracy fighters and released Shri Sachchidanand Upasane’s book ‘Woh 21 Maahin: Emergency’. He informed that the state government has restarted the discontinued Samman Rashi scheme, along with payment of arrears for five years. The democracy fighters will now be cremated with state honours and their next of kin will be given an ex-gratia of ₹25,000. For this, a bill has also been passed in the Assembly so that this scheme can not be stopped in future.
Speaker Raman Singh held a detailed discussion on the horrors of the Emergency and the contribution of democracy fighters. He said that the 21-month period was a direct blow to the country’s democracy, in which the judiciary, legislature, executive and media were all paralysed.
Loktantra Senani Sangh’s national vice-president Sachchidanand Upasane, Pawan Sai, minister Lakhanlal Dewangan, MLA Motilal Sahu and many public representatives and democracy fighters were present on the occasion.