Lucknow: Describing Bharat Ratna to socialist leader Karpoori Thakur as a victory of the movement for social justice, Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said Samajwadi Party’s PDA plank comprising Pichade (backward classes), Dalit & Alpsankhyak (minorities) was an extension of the same struggle.
“Socialist reformer Karpoori Thakur being posthumously awarded with Bharat Ratna is a victory of his movement for social justice.Those who have traditionally and staunchly opposed reservation are now bowing before the collective strength of 90% of the population which belongs to the PDA bracket,” Akhilesh said, adding a gathering at the party headquarters at an event organised to observe the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur.
The event, where leaders paid rich floral tributes to Karpoori Thakur, was a part of similar celebrations held at party offices in every district of the state.
“On this occasion, we demand that other torchbearers of the struggle for social justice, like socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia, BP Mandal, Chaudhary Charan Singh & Netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav, should also be awarded with Bharat Ratna,” Akhilesh said. The former UP CM also backed BSP supremo Mayawati’s demand for Bharat Ratna for her party’s founder Kashi Ram.
Former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur was a disciple of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan and a champion of social justice who continued his struggle to uphold the values and spirit of democracy in the country, Akhilesh said. “Our PDA movement is inspired by Karpoori Thakur’s social struggle. In sharp contrast to this, BJP’s moves are only aimed at how to win elections and form government,” he said.
Akhilesh, who is also the leader of opposition in the state assembly, said caste discrimination has been prevailing for ages now. “However, the Indian society today is restless. The BJP seems determined to do away with the reservation policy provided in the Constitution of India by Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Karpoori Thakur had always stood against any attempts to thwart democracy in India. He was even shoved in jail for opposing the Emergency and we all should learn lessons from his life and struggles,” Akhilesh said.
“Socialist reformer Karpoori Thakur being posthumously awarded with Bharat Ratna is a victory of his movement for social justice.Those who have traditionally and staunchly opposed reservation are now bowing before the collective strength of 90% of the population which belongs to the PDA bracket,” Akhilesh said, adding a gathering at the party headquarters at an event organised to observe the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur.
The event, where leaders paid rich floral tributes to Karpoori Thakur, was a part of similar celebrations held at party offices in every district of the state.
“On this occasion, we demand that other torchbearers of the struggle for social justice, like socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia, BP Mandal, Chaudhary Charan Singh & Netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav, should also be awarded with Bharat Ratna,” Akhilesh said. The former UP CM also backed BSP supremo Mayawati’s demand for Bharat Ratna for her party’s founder Kashi Ram.
Former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur was a disciple of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan and a champion of social justice who continued his struggle to uphold the values and spirit of democracy in the country, Akhilesh said. “Our PDA movement is inspired by Karpoori Thakur’s social struggle. In sharp contrast to this, BJP’s moves are only aimed at how to win elections and form government,” he said.
Akhilesh, who is also the leader of opposition in the state assembly, said caste discrimination has been prevailing for ages now. “However, the Indian society today is restless. The BJP seems determined to do away with the reservation policy provided in the Constitution of India by Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Karpoori Thakur had always stood against any attempts to thwart democracy in India. He was even shoved in jail for opposing the Emergency and we all should learn lessons from his life and struggles,” Akhilesh said.