E-Paper
Emergency warrior left out of honour list
AS A minor he had spent time in prison during the Emergency. Now, in his late forties he is running from pillar to post to prove his credentials of a Loktantra Senani.
AS A minor he had spent time in prison during the Emergency. Now, in his late forties he is running from pillar to post to prove his credentials of a Loktantra Senani.
Shyam Kishore Mishra alias Vagish believes that his role during the Emergency should earn him a citation and a pension cheque tomorrow, when Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will be in town to distribute them.
Though Vagish had applied for the scheme, the name of one the youngest Loktantra Senanis do not figure on the first list of beneficiaries.
The city administration has shortlisted 105 names for the first list. Vaish feels let down as his name is also not among the 900 probables and jail records do not support his claim.
When asked about the rather short first list, an officer said they had not been able to include more names as the verification process was taking time.
Talking to Hindustan Times Vagish said, “It is surprising that my name has not been included even though I had submitted my application on September 4”.
Vagish said he was not the only minor to be imprisoned. Gopal Bansal, Diwakar Gupta, Mahattam Tiwari and Mahesh Gupta were minor students at the time of Emergency and had been jailed. Vagish added that of the group of five only Mahesh Gupta has been included in the list.
Vagish said during the Emergency they were ‘messengers’ and used to distribute the daily ‘Janta Samachar’.
When HT took up the administrative ‘lapse’ with additional district magistrate (supply) Shyam Lal Yadav he put the blame on jail authorities, “Some names of Emergency warriors has not been sent by jail authorities. Similarly, some people were not found at their addresses or did not submit applications to the district representatives”.
However, Yadav assured that the benefit would be given to all Emergency warriors of the district. He said those who did not find mention in the first list would be included in lists that were to follow.
