The Hindu : Bihar remembers JP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 12, 2002

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Bihar remembers JP

By K. Balchand

PATNA Oct. 11. A socio-political divide has surfaced in Bihar in commemorating the birth centenary of Jayaprakash Narayan. The official function here today saw the Bihar Governor, V.C. Pandey, the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, paying tributes to the man who crusaded the Sampoorna Kranti in the 1970s. Social activists, on the other hand, sought to distance themselves from the politicians, most of whom were associated with JP, accusing them of being no different from those against whom the movement was spearheaded. But notably, their concern for democratic institutions and the rise of communalism, particularly in Gujarat, sought to strike a unifying chord. And, ironically enough, the objective was to take the movement to Gujarat, where the students' struggle had inspired JP in the early 70s to give a new direction to the polity.

In a gesture to honour the `Lok Nayak', the State Government has decided to hold elections to students unions, which have remained defunct for more than two decades, in all the universities in the State. On the Government's orders, functions were organised in all educational institutions — from primary schools to universities — to pay tributes to the son of the soil who fought the tyranny of the colonial powers and later took on Indira Gandhi.

The other major resolve of the State Government wass to grant reprieve to prisoners who were 70 years old and above. Women less than 70 years of age would also stand to benefit, subject to the conditions worked out by the Government. The proposal, which could benefit hundreds of prisoners, is pending clearance from the Raj Bhavan.

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Bihar remembers JP