NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid homage to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary, describing him as one of India’s most fearless voices of conscience and a tireless champion of democracy and social justice.
PM Modi highlighted Loknayak JP’s dedication to empowering ordinary citizens and strengthening constitutional values.
“On his birth anniversary, I pay homage to Loknayak JP, one of India’s most fearless voices of conscience and a tireless champion of democracy and social justice,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Loknayak JP’s clarion call for Sampoorna Kranti ignited a societal movement, envisioning a nation built on equality, ethics, and good governance. His leadership played a pivotal role in preserving and strengthening India’s democratic fabric during the testing times of the early and mid-1970s.
Loknayak JP inspired numerous mass movements, notably in Bihar and Gujarat, which led to a socio-political awakening across India. These movements shook the then Congress government at the Centre, which subsequently imposed the Emergency and trampled over the Constitution. PM Modi himself was inspired by Loknayak JP’s ideals and participated in the anti-Emergency struggle as a young man in Gujarat.
During the Emergency, Loknayak JP spent several days in solitary confinement. His ‘Prison Diary’ captures his anguish and unbroken faith in democracy. “Every nail driven into the coffin of Indian democracy is like a nail driven into my heart,” he wrote. Loknayak JP’s ‘Prison Diary’ is a testament to his unwavering commitment to democracy and social justice.
Agencies