Pension announcement for JP movement leaders, a publicity stunt

Patna, Apr 28 (UNI) The RJD and Congress today dubbed as a ''publicity stunt'' the announcement of the Nitish Kumar governmenmt to give monthly pension to those jailed during the JP movement.

National spokesman of the RJD Shyam Rajak alleged that the NDA government had failed to protect the life and property of the people who were feeling insecure following spurt in murder and kidnappings in the state.

He said the Nitish Kumar government should have focussed on the issues of law and order, employment, health and education instead of indulging in political gimmicks like announcement of pension for the leaders and workers, who took active part in the movement of 1974-77, launched by Jai Prakash Narain.

'' Those who participated in the JP movement have no desire of getting any financial benefit from the government in lieu of their struggle for bringing a change in society, '' he said.

Chief spokesman of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) Prem Chandra Mishra said the announcement of pension for leader and workers of JP movement was yet another attempt by the Nitish Kumar government to ''befool'' the people.

He said those, who sent people like S S Ahuwalia and Mahendra Prasad alias King Mahendra to Rajya Sabha, could not claim to be true follower of Jai Prakash Narain.

He said the NDA government had failed to check corruption and bring reforms in education sector, which were the vital issues during the JP movement.

UNI