Saturday, December 13, 2008

indian freedom fighters

India's Supreme Court has hit out at people falsely claiming to have fought for the country's independence from Britain, describing them as traitors. The court's comments came while hearing a petition alleging that a large number of people were fraudulently enjoying benefits as freedom fighters.

It asked the government to deal sternly with those found guilty. India gained independence from British rule in 1947 and those who fought for freedom enjoy special privileges. It has been established that people who were not even born when the freedom fight was on... have applied for and managed to get pensions and other benefits"
Justice Arijit Pasayat But a petition being heard on Wednesday alleged that in a district in Maharashtra state a large number of people had been falsely granted the status of freedom fighters and were earning a state pension.

Justice Arijit Pasayat said such people caused disrespect to the country.
He said freedom fighters evoked the image of a person who had suffered mentally and physically in unshackling the chains of foreign rule. The normal reaction when one sees such person is of reverence, regard and respect. But he added that these images were shattered by those who lay false claims for financial gain.

It is a sad reflection on the moral values of the citizens of our country that a large number of cases have surfaced where it has been established that people who were not even born when the freedom fight was on or the country got independence or were toddlers have applied for and managed to get pensions and other benefits, the judge said. The Supreme Court also appointed a one-man inquiry commission to investigate 354 suspect claims of benefits in Maharashtra state. It gave the commission four months to complete its inquiry and submit its report to the state government for necessary action.

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