Ranchi: A 99-year-old freedom fighter on Saturday began a hunger strike here to get his pension for taking part in India's struggle for independence. His 86-year-old wife is accompanying him.

Cheddi Ram, 99 and his 86-year-old wife Chamni Devi sat on their indefinite hunger strike near Raj Bhavan. Ram claimed that he actively participated in the 'Quit India' movement and other movements, but wasn't accorded a pension despite efforts since 1981.

"We have to run from pillar to post to try to get my pension. I had been jailed during the fight for independence," Ram, a resident of Godda district, told reporters.

"We were forced to sit on a hunger strike as authorities turned a deaf year to our demands," the couple told reporters.

"We are trying to get pension since 1981. On October 13, we informed the governor, chief minister, chief secretary and others we would sit on indefinite hunger if our demand of pension was not cleared by October 30," they added.

Any person who had fought for the freedom of the country is entitled to a monthly pension of Rs.3,000, after authorities verify if the person claiming himself/herself as a freedom fighter is genuine or not.

The Jharkhand unit of National Senior Citizens Forum has supported the demand of the elderly couple.

"This is an insult to freedom fighters of the country. We support the demand of the elderly couple and we will start an agitation to support their demand," state chief of the forum Arun Pandey told reporters.

Tags: 99-year-old hunger strike, freedom fighter