New Delhi: Central Government has decided to build a memorial for veteran freedom fighter and socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan at his ancestral village Sitab Diara in Saran district of Bihar. Popularly known as JP, Narayan was the main force under whose leadership, 1970 Student Movement was launched. He was also a prominent figure in 1942 Quit India Movement.
The Memorial will house a virtual museum and an institute to undertake study and research on (a) democracy, (b) enhancing the role of Panchayats in nation building, (c) Gandhian thoughts, and (d) centre for Khadi and constructive work keeping in view the thoughts of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, along with Lok Nayak Khadi Gaurav Samvardhan Kendra at the same place for making national flags by women cluster(s).
Jai Prakash Narayan addressing a Rally in 1970s
While the role of JP in upholding Indian Democracy is unquestionable, the timing of this move is widely seen in the backdrop of Bihar Assembly Elections, where BJP faces tough battle from JDU and RJD, both parties claiming to carry forward the lineage of JP. Ironically, Congress Party, against which JP’s 1970 Movement was based, is a part of ruling coalition of JDU and RJD.
The announcement for the memorial was made on June 24, the eve of the Anniversary of infamous 1975 Emergency Rule, imposed by Indira Gandhi. Political analysts see it as a masterstroke by Narendra Modi led Government to highlight the role of Congress Party in imposing the Emergency. Then known as Rashtriya Janasangh, several of BJP’s members were jailed during the 2 year long Emergency Rule. After proclamation of National Emergency, on the mid-night of 25th June, 1975, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan was arrested and kept as a detenu at Chandigarh.
Present Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reportedly donned a Sikh Turban to evade arrest during the Emergency rule. Congress has been accusing Narendra Modi recently for bringing in a dictatorship like Government in the Centre and equating it with Emergency. With this step, Modi might throw the ball back to Congress’s Court.
This was quite evident when Modi tweeted today, “Inspired by the call of JP, several men and women across India selflessly immersed themselves in the movement to safeguard our democracy”
“We are very proud of the lakhs of people, who resisted the Emergency and whose efforts ensured that our democratic fabric is preserved”, he said in a tweet to mark the 40th anniversary of Emergency.