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Freedom fighter falls at minister’s feet for pension
The minister was taken by surprise when the elderly freedom fighter grabbed his feet begging him to increase the pension for freedom fighters, reports Ashok Das.
That freedom fighters continue to suffer even after sixty years of Independence was glaringly brought to light by a sad incident in the district headquarter town of Ongole in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
S Venkateswarulu, a freedom fighter in his late 80s, fell at the feet of Minister for Infrastructure and Investments, M Venkatramana, causing shock and consternation among the hundreds of people gathered for the Independence Day celebration function at the police parade grounds.
The minister was taken by surprise when the elderly freedom fighter grabbed his feet begging him to increase the pension for freedom fighters. Venkateswarlu said he was living in abject poverty as the Rs 1,000 monthly pension paid by the government was barely enough to buy one meal a day.
