Patna, Oct. 11: Leaders across parties celebrated the 114th birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaparakash Narayan.
Loknayak or JP, as he was called, had given the call for " Sampoorna Sankranti (total revolution)" and inspired, mentored and nurtured a broad spectrum of politicians in Bihar's politically vibrant firmanent - from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to RJD chief Lalu Prasad to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi and others.
Today, Nitish offered flowery tributes to the socialist leader at an official function at the Income Tax roundabout in the city. He then visited JP's residence, Charkha Samiti, at Kadamkuan, where he garlan-ded statues of Jayaprakash and his wife Prabhavati Devi.
He said JP's message of "total revolution" to fight society's evils are relevant even today. JP understood the changed scenario in the country after Independence and the sentiments of the people, Nitish said. The socialist leader felt the need to intervene and "gave leadership to the student's movement," which went on to become a people's movement.
"JP called for a total revolution against all kinds of ills, discriminations in society and inequalities around the world," Nitish said.
"It is still relevant today. We take inspiration from him and make continuous efforts to foster unity in society and bring its marginalised sections to the mainstream. It will be the real tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan if we achieve anything on these lines."
The chief minister also said that JP and Ram Manohar Lohia took forward the Quit India movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi against the British. He also emphasised out that JP's "total revolution" and Lohia's "seven revolutions" were one.
Speaker of Bihar legislative assembly Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, director general of police P.K. Thakur and several MLAs accompanied Nitish to the venue.
Earlier, Union ministers Ananth Kumar and Ravishankar Prasad and state BJP leaders like former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, leader of Opposition in the legislative Assembly Prem Kumar and BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav, too, visited Charkha Samiti to pay tributes to JP.
Ananth, the Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers, said he makes it a point to visit the place every year on JP's birth anniversary.
"The socialist leader was an inspiration for the entire country," Ananth said. "We have also been inspired by his ideals. He gave the message of a "corruption-free" and "Congress-free" India, Ananth said.
Ravishankar, the Union minister for law and justice, said Jayaprakash's life was very inspiring and "provides strength to us."
