Samajwadi Party Announces Pension For Anti-CAA Protesters, Gets Slammed By BJP

The Samajwadi Party has promised pension for people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and compensation to the kin of those jailed or killed during these protests. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary said that anti-CAA protesters would get pension because they struggled to save the Constitution and democracy.

“If our party comes to power at the Centre and in UP, they (protesters) will be given pension as they have struggled to save the Constitution and the democracy,” said Chaudhary responding to a question. He said they protect all those who seek refuge from them.

“We will protect everyone who will come to us (Jo humari sharan mein aa gaye woh humari sharan mein hain. Hum sabki raksha karney wale log hain),” the senior Samajwadi Party leader told media persons.

Referring to remarks of state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should stay in Pakistan for a month to understand atrocities being on Hindus, the senior SP leader said the Narendra Modi-led Union government was out to divert people’s attention from real issues. Anyone raising a question is being asked to go to Pakistan, he alleged.

The senior Samajwadi Party leader hit out at the Centre and state governments and said that if they come to in the state, the Bangladeshis will not be driven out.

Chaudhary said the Samajwadi Party had protested against the CAA in Uttar Pradesh and not the Congress. He alleged that to damage the main opposition party, media was bringing forward Priyanka Gandhi and Congress party.

His comment drew a sharp reaction from the ruling BJP which said it was in the “DNA of that party to honour rioters and anti-social elements”.