WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘INDIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL BE WORLD’S MOST MODERN’ YS JAGAN & SHARMILA AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS P4 SENSEX 70,370.551,053.10 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. MODERATE TO DENSE FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 19 AND 07 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 97 % TEMPERATURE Max: 19.5 °C (-1) SUN RISES 7:13 hrs MOON RISES 16:31 hrs P5 NIFTY 21,238.80333.00 P9 ` vs $ 83.13 P12 SILVER 75,000500 GOLD 63,050 ‘Bharat Parv’ is reflection of ideals of Netaji, says PM BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 78.220.84 Mad rush of devotees at Ram temple a day after consecration On Netaji’s birth anniversary, PM says this is a ‘parv’ of adopting ‘Vocal for Local’ ‘25 cr people out of poverty due to Ram’s inspiration’ Min. 58 % Min: 06.9 °C (-1) SUN SETS 17:54 hrs MOON SETS 07:06 hrs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY THUMBNAILS A glimpse of the Rajasthan Tableau during the rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path on Tuesday. ANI Myanmar military aircraft overshoots runway at Aizawl airport, 8 hurt: At least eight crew members of a Myanmar Air Force aircraft were injured after the plane skidded off the tabletop runway of the Lengpui airport in here on Tuesday, officials said. The aircraft had come to Lengpui airport to take back the remaining 92 Myanmar soldiers to their country. Officials said that out of the 14 people who were on board the medium size aircraft along with the pilot, eight were injured. ‘KL RAHUL WON’T BE DONNING GLOVES AGAINST ENGLAND’ SUNAK’S RWANDA MIGRATION BILL SUFFERS A BLOW IN UK’S PARL STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said 'Bharat Parv' is a reflection of the ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. “This is a ‘parv’ of adopting ‘Vocal for Local’, promoting tourism, respecting diversity and to give new height to ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’,” the Prime Minister said while participating in 'Parakram Diwas' cele- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday replied to President Droupadi Murmu’s letter on his participation in Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya and said he had come back with an Ayodhya in his heart which can never separate from him. He said he was thankful to the President for her kind words which helped him in controlling his emotions and get ready for the task before him. Mr Modi said he had visited Ayodhya as a pilgrim. His mind was overwhelmed with thoughts at the holy place where faith and history had merged. Being witness to such a historic occasion was a matter of good fortune and a big responsibility for him, the Prime Minister said. He said Mrs Murmu had mentioned his 11day fasts for the consecration ceremony. The fact was that many great people had for centuries taken vows so that Ram Lalla could back get his abode of birth. Mr Modi said he was fortunate that he had performed the last of the fasts in the series and it was a deeply special moment for him. He said the moments which provided a live view of Ram Lalla to him and the 140 crore people of the country, along with an occasion to be face to face with him, were outstanding. He got these moments due to Lord Ram’s blessings and the good wishes of people of the country, for which he would ever remain grateful. Mr Modi said “we not only worship Ram but also take inspiration from him in every part of our lives and social role.” brations at the Red Fort in Delhi this evening. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Parakram Diwas which is celebrated on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary. Referring to Netaji’s fight against the mental- ity of slavery, Mr Modi said Netaji would have been proud of the new consciousness and pride pervading the young generation of today’s India. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AYODHYA, 23 JANUARY A day after the temple consecration ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lakhs of Rambhakts thronged the Ram temple early Tuesday. With a sea of people keen to have a darshan of Ram Lalla, the authorities were caught napping. The Uttar Pradesh government had rushed more security personnel and all vehicles reaching Ayodhya were stopped to control the crowd. All government buses going to Ayodhya have been diverted. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Ayodhya in the afternoon along with officials to inspect the situation. The CM also made a helicopter survey of the crowd management near the Ram temple. Later, Mr Adityanath reached the sanctum sanctorum of the temple along with officials to monitor the crowd. The CM assured all the devotees that they will have darshan of Ram Lalla. As today was the first Tuesday after the consecration ceremony, devotees rushed to pray at the Ram temple and Hanumangarhi after taking a dip in the holy Saryu river since early morning. The Ram temple was slated to open at 7 a.m. after cleaning, but a large crowd of over one lakh reached the temple by 3 a.m. in the morning which forced the authorities to open the temple early. There was a mad rush among the devotees to have the darshan of Ram Lalla which led to a stampede-like situation. But due to sincere efforts of the security personnel, a disaster was avoided. BJNY blocked from entering Guwahati; Maldives allows Chinese PM interacts with PMRBP awardees ‘spy ship’ to dock atMale port Congress workers scuffle with cops STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE GUWAHATI, 23 JANUARY Congress workers scuffled with police on the outskirts of Guwahati on Tuesday afternoon after the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi was stopped from entering the city. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma subsequently accused the Congress of using ‘Naxalite’ tactics and directed Assam Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh to initiate a criminal case against Mr Gandhi in connection with the incident in the Khanapara area of the city. Earlier, the Assam government declined permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Yatra to pass through key roads in Guwa- hati as it re-entered Assam on Tuesday following its journey through Meghalaya. The decision follows a tense exchange between the Assam Chief Minister and Congress leaders, who accused him of impeding the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The state administration argued that since it is a working day in Guwahati, allowing the yatra on major city roads could result in traffic congestion. Consequently, the rally was directed to take the national highway route as it progresses towards lower Assam, specifically the National Highway 27 encircling the city. This development follows a dramatic incident near the shrine of 15th-century social reformer Srimanta Sankardeva in Assam. Mr Gandhi had planned to visit the birthplace of the Vaishnav saint near Guwahati yesterday. However, Chief Minister Sarma urged him not to visit the shrine before the Ram Mandir 'pran pratistha' ceremony in Ayodhya. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY In a development that is bound to raise the hackles of the Indian establishment, the Maldives on Wednesday confirmed that it has permitted a Chinese ship to make a port call in Male but claimed that the vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters. “Concerning the media reports regarding the port call of the Chinese Research Vessel XIANG YANG HONG 3 at Male’, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to inform that a diplomatic request was made by the Government of China to the Government of Maldives, for the necessary NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY clearances to make a port call, for rotation of personnel and replenishment. The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters,” a statement from the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said. The Chinese vessel, which Beijing claims is an ocean research vessel, but is widely seen to be a spy ship mapping the Indian Ocean floor for military purposes, is expected to arrive in Male in early February. The statement said the Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for vessels of friendly countries, and continues to host both civilian and military vessels making port calls for peaceful purposes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awardees at his residence on the significance of Parakram Diwas and how the government is honouring the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He presented souvenirs to each awardee and then engaged in a freewheeling interaction with them. The children shared details of their achievements due to which they have been selected for the award. Various subjects like music, culture, solar power, sports like badminton, chess, among others, were discussed. The children also asked the prime minister several ques- tions as well as he spoke about his interest in music of all kinds, and how it helps him in meditation. Asked about the launch of Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana, Modi recalled the steps taken by him to harness solar energy while he was the chief minister of Gujarat, and also spoke about how people will benefit from this scheme. The Union government has been conferring the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to children for their exceptional achievement in seven categories namely Art and Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Science and Technology, Social Service, Sports and Environment. Each awardee is given a medal, certificate and citation booklet. Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur: A man of great simplicity and a tireless fighter for social justice NARENDRA MODI T oday is the birth centenary of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji, whose relentless pursuit of social justice created a positive impact in the lives of crores of people. I never had the opportunity to meet Karpoori Ji but, I heard a lot about him from Kailashpati Mishra Ji, who worked closely with him. He belonged to one of the most backward sections of society, the Nai Samaj. Overcoming numerous obstacles, he achieved a lot and worked for societal betterment. Jan Nayak Kapoor Thakur Ji’s life revolved around the twin pillars of simplicity and social justice. Till his last breath, his simple lifestyle and humble nature resonated deeply with the common people. There are numerous anecdotes that highlight his simplicity. Those who worked with him recall how he preferred to spend his own money for any personal matter including his daughter’s wedding. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar, a decision was taken to build a colony for political leaders but he himself did not take any land or money for the same. When he passed away in 1988, several leaders went to his village to pay tributes. When they saw the condition of his house, they were moved to tears- how can someone so towering have a house so simple! Another anecdote of his simplicity dates back to 1977 when he just took over as CM of Bihar. The Janata Government was in power in Delhi and Patna. That time, Janata leaders had gathered in Patna to mark Loknayak JP’s birthday. Among the galaxy of top leaders walked in Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur Ji, with a torn Kurta. In his own style, Chandrashekhar Ji asked people to donate some money so that Karpoori Ji could purchase a new Kurta. But, Karpoori Ji was Karpoori Ji- he accepted the money but donated it to the CM Relief Fund. Social justice was most dear to Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji. His political journey was marked by monumental efforts to create a society where resources were distributed fairly, and everyone, regardless of their social standing, had access to opportunities. He wanted to address the systemic inequalities that plagued Indian society. Such was his commitment to his ideals that despite living in an era where the Congress Party was omnipresent, he took a distinctly anti-Congress line because he was convinced very early on that the Congress had deviated from its founding principles. His electoral career began in the early 1950s and since then, he became a force to reckon with in the legislative chambers, powerfully voicing the struggles of the working class, labourers, small farmers and youngsters. Education was a subject very close to his heart. Throughout his political career he worked to improve education facilities for the poor. He was a proponent of education in local languages so that people from small towns and villages can climb the ladder and attain success. As CM, he took many measures for the welfare of senior citizens as well. Democracy, debate and discussion were integral to Karpoori Ji’s personality. This spirit was seen when he immersed himself in the Quit India movement as a youngster and it was again seen when he resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. His unique perspectives were great admired by the likes of JP, Dr. Lohia and Charan Singh Ji. Perhaps one of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji’s most significant contributions to India was his role in strengthening the affirmative action apparatus for the backward classes, with the hope that they were given the representation and opportunities they deserved. His decision was met with heavy opposition but he did not bow to any pressure. Under his leadership, policies were implemented that laid the groundwork for a more inclusive society, where one’s birth did not determine one’s fate. He belonged to the most backward strata of society but he worked for all the people. He had no trace of bitterness in him, which is what makes him truly great. Over the last ten years, our Government has walked on the path of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji, reflecting in our schemes and policies that have brought transformative empowerment. One of the biggest tragedies of our polity has been that barring a few leaders like Karpoori Ji, the call for social justice was restricted to being a political slogan. Inspired by Karpoori Ji’s vision we implemented it as an effective governance model. I can say with confidence and pride that Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji would have been very proud of India’s feat of freeing 25 crore people from the clutches of poverty in the last few years. These are people from the most backward sections of society, who were denied basic facilities nearly seven decades after freedom from colonial rule. At the same time, our efforts towards saturation- of ensuring every scheme reaches 100per cent coverage echoes his commitment to social welfare. Today, when people from OBC, SC and ST Communities are becoming entrepreneurs due to MUDRA Loans, it fulfills Karpoori Thakur Ji’s vision of economic independence. Likewise, it was our government which had the privilege of extending SC, ST and OBC reservation. We also had the honour of setting up the OBC Commission (which was opposed by Congress, sadly), which is working on the path shown by Karpoori Ji. Our PM-Vishwakarma Scheme will also bring new avenues of prosperity for crores of people belonging to OBC communities across India. As a person belonging to the backward classes myself, I have much to thank Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji for. Unfortunately, we lost Karpoori Ji at a relatively young age of 64. We lost him when we needed him the most. Yet, he lives on in the heart and minds of crores of people due to his work. He was a true Jan Nayak! Bharat Ratna announced for ‘Jan Nayak’Karpoori Thakur posthumously STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY The Centre on Tuesday announced Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, to former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur posthumously. The announcement came a day before his birth anniversary. An official statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, "The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Shri Karpoori Thakur (posthumously)." Born on January 24, 1924, Thakur belonged to Bihar and was popularly known as 'Jan Nayak' (people's hero). He served as the chief minister of Bihar from December 1970 to June 1971 (Socialist Party/Bharatiya Kranti Dal), and from December 1977 to April 1979 (Janata Party). Thakur passed away on 17 February 1988. He served as the President of Samyukta Socialist Party. He is called a mentor to prominent Bihar leaders such as Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Devendra Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Thakur was also a votary of Hindi language, and as the education minister of Bihar, he removed English as the compulsory subject for the matriculation curriculum. Bharat Ratna was awarded to Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh, eminent Assamese poet Bhupen Hazarika and former president Pranab Mukherjee in 2019.