The allowance was started during the previous SP regime led by Mulayam Singh Yadav and was valid till March 2007.

Raising the issue through an adjournment motion, Yadav said the scheme has been shelved only due to political rivalry. He added a dharna was being held in front of the Assembly, led by Lok Sabha member from Salempur Harkevel Prasad, for early restoration of the allowance scheme.

BJP Legislature Party leader Om Prakash Singh said in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government had introduced a Rs 6,000-per-month allowance to leaders who were jailed during Emergency.

Opposing the motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma said the scheme was politically motivated as it was launched at the time of elections. He added BJP introduced the scheme in MP just before Assembly polls. This led the SP and BJP members staging a walkout.