Gandhinagar: A meeting of ex-MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) was held in State capital Gandhinagar on Tuesday in which former MLAs decided to press the State government for starting a pension scheme for ex-MLAs.

Former MLA Babu Meghji Shah told media persons that they would approach the court and go for a legal fight if the State government refuses to grant pensions to ex-MLAs. He said if the members of parliament elected from the State can get pension, why the MLAs should not get it?

Former minister Bharat Barot told media persons that all other States offer pensions to ex-MLAs barring Gujarat. Barot went on to say that the ex-MLAs in the other States also get free transportation facilities, and access to the State government-run guest houses (Circuit houses) apart from pension and other benefits. The meeting of ex-MLAs also decided to demand access to stay in Circuit houses.

The ex-MLAs stated that every time when the issue of the need for pension for ex-MLAs is raised, certain people argue that it’s a Gandhian state and therefore such pensions should not be granted. Barot and Shah said the ex-MLAs thanked former Speaker Neemaben Acharya for giving the medical treatment benefits worth Rs. 15 lahks to ex-MLAs at par with the sitting MLAs. Babu Meghji Shah said that the ex-MLAs successfully made representations and managed to get medical treatment benefits, the same way they would continue to press for the pension.

The meeting on Tuesday was attended by Mayaben Kodnani, Lakhabhai Bharwad, and other ex-MLAs. Sitting MLA Ramanlal Vora who was previously part of this group was felicitated in the meeting. DeshGujarat