PM Describes Badal As Nelson Mandella Of India

MEANWHILE, Describing Bharat Ratna Jaya Prakash Narayan as a true votary of farmers and rural populace, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to constitute a high level committee comprising agriculture experts, prominent farmer leaders and economists to suggest ways and means for making agriculture a profitable venture, as a real tribute to Lok Nayak.

Addressing the gathering during ‘Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan’ a program organized to commemorate 113^th birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan here after paying floral tributes to him at Vigyan Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that both father of nation Mahatma Gandhi and JP believed that India lives in villages. He said that Lok Nayak was particularly of the view that India could not progress till development takes place in villages. However, Mr. Badal bemoaned that today farmers who ensured food security to the nation were facing great economic crisis.

The Chief Minister said that the dream of JP could never be fulfilled if the farmers of the country continue to reel under prevailing agrarian crisis. He urged the Prime Minister that this committee should be asked to submit its recommendations within three months regarding how to eradicate poverty and make noble profession of agriculture profitable. “I think this will be the most befitting tribute to Lok Nayak on this day which will help in fulfilling his vision in true sense” added Mr. Badal.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, while paying homage to Jaya Prakash Narayan, recalled the stellar role played by him in the national freedom struggle. He said that Lok Nayak was a great freedom fighter, a true Patriot, an eminent scholar, social reformer, savior of democracy and a real statesman. Mr. Badal said that life and philosophy of Lok Nayak was a lighthouse for the entire countrymen. “I always considered Lok Nayak Jaya Parkash Narayan and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as my role models in public life” he added.

The Chief Minister said that JP gave a call of "Total Revolution" which electrified the entire country. He said that the call of Total revolution received huge response and massive support from Shiromani Akali Dal and the biggest rally organized during this struggle was at Ludhiana, which was attended by Lok Nayak. Mr. Badal said that this movement became biggest threat to Indira Gandhi after which she imposed emergency to suppress that democratic movement.

Recalling the black days of Emergency, the Chief Minister said that all Fundamental rights were abolished and entire political leadership opposed to Emergency was thrown behind bars. He said that in its meeting held at Amritsar SAD decided to launch a Morcha against this draconian step after which the top leadership of Akali Dal including him courted arrest. Mr. Badal said that Akali Dal was approached by Indira Gandhi for not opposing emergency and promised to rule over Punjab forever.

However, the Chief Minister said that Akali Dal followed the footsteps of great Sikh Gurus who had taught them to fight against oppression, injustice and tyranny. He said that all Akali leaders were jailed for opposing Emergency but then also the Morcha continued till emergency was lifted. “It is Shiromani Akali Dal's greatest contribution for saving and guarding democracy in India besides upholding the freedom of Press” added Mr. Badal.

The Chief Minister said that after emergency was lifted JP played a proactive role to bring all parties together to form Janata Party which formed the first ever non-cong government at the center. Mr. Badal said that those who sacrificed their lives for the country had a dream that no one should be illiterate, poor and unemployed in the country. However, he said that long rule of Congress had shattered their dreams as the country was confronting with a number of social maladies like Unemployment and poverty, which have now increased manifold. “But now the country has brought a big change by bringing a government at center under the leadership of Mr. Modi, which is working tirelessly to restore the pristine glory of the country thereby fulfilling the dreams of great national heroes like JP” added Mr. Badal.