Congress, RJD Protest against Emergency Pension Proposal
Patna: May 3, 2007
 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state president Abdul Bari Siddiqui in Patna on Thursday lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's proposal to provide pensions to those went to jail during the '70s Emergency saying it was a political ploy to fund the 'agents of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bajrang Dal and other right wing outfits' of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
"This is nothing but pure politics. If the Chief Minister was serious about helping the anti-Emergency activists, he would have made someone other than Sushil Kumar Modi the president of the committee," Siddiqui said.
"There are leaders in the NDA who were part of the Indira Gandhi government during the time the Emergency was imposed and the government is talking about providing pensions to those who opposed Emergency," Siddiqui said with apparent reference the the Janata Dal (U) leader Jagannath Mishra, among others.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders held a dharna at the Income Tax roundabout on Thursday to protest against the pension plan.
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