
Call for official celebration of VP Singh's birth anniv
1
2
Lucknow: A demand was made to officially observe former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's birth anniversary by the govt, similar to celebrations for other former PMs and CMs.
The appeal was made by general secretary Mandal Masiha VP Singh society, Abdul Naseer while chairing a programme organised to commemorate VP Singh's 94th birth anniversary in the city on Wednesday.
Naseer urged the central and state govts to implement all recommendations of the Mandal Commission in full.
Chief guest, former minister and Mohanlalganj MP R K Chaudhary said: "Singh's historic work on social justice must be enforced completely. Today, democracy is in danger, and it is our collective responsibility to protect it. Parliament is the temple of democracy and the Constitution, not the Sengol, should be its centrepiece."
Speakers stressed that representation—not just reservation—is necessary across all sectors, including top-level services, private jobs, ownership, contracts and leases.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
BJP slams Congress on 50th Anniversary of Emergency, marks ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' with exhibition in Delhi
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975, by the then Indira Gandhi-led Congress government, the BJP government in Delhi commemorated the day as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' by inaugurating a special exhibition at Central Park in Connaught Place. The exhibition was organised by the government's Department of Art, Culture and Language, in collaboration with the Hindi Academy. It was inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, the CM drew a parallel between the pro-democracy movement of 1975 and India's freedom struggle. She lashed out at the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government, calling it 'cruel, dictatorial, and insensitive.' 'The 21-month period that began on June 25, 1975, saw millions jailed without cause. There was no appeal, no argument, no hearing — it was the darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy,' she said. Taking a dig at the Congress, she remarked: 'Those who once crushed democracy now ironically roam with the Constitution in their pockets, despite having disrespected it in the past.' She recalled the sacrifices of BJP leaders and veterans like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Madan Lal Khurana, and Balraj Madhok, who were imprisoned during the Emergency. 'Their stories must be remembered by future generations,' she said. 'Such dark days will never return to this country, and the people will not tolerate any dictatorial attempt,' she said, adding that both the Centre and Delhi government remain committed to upholding the Constitution and its democratic values. She also announced a year-long series of programmes to honour the 'warriors of democracy' who fought against the Emergency. Minister of Art and Culture Kapil Mishra, whose department had curated the exhibition, said it showcases rare documents, many being displayed publicly for the first time. 'These documents expose how democracy was murdered during the Emergency,' he said. 'Overnight, the entire opposition was thrown behind bars, the courts were stripped of power, journalists were jailed, and media establishments shut down. The way India's democracy was attacked is something the country must never forget,' Mishra said. He called the exhibition 'not just a preservation of history, but a reminder of how democracy was defended through struggle and sacrifice.'


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Adding ‘secular', ‘socialist' to Constitution was a blow to India's soul: Yogi
LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said inclusion of the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble to the Constitution during the Emergency was 'a brutal assault on the soul of India'. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath during the event, marking 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency, at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) He said the Congress should apologise to Dalits, the marginalised, and the people of India for suppressing voices that BR Ambedkar had empowered through the Constitution. 'The Congress should apologise to Dalits, underprivileged people, and all citizens for the Emergency. The party had silenced the voices of those whom Babasaheb Ambedkar had empowered through his writings,' he said after inaugurating a seminar titled 'The Dark Chapter of Indian Democracy' at Lok Bhavan, marking 50 years since the declaration of Emergency. 'The sin committed by Congress and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, to stay in power will never be forgotten. One family turned the dreams of freedom fighters into tools for their narrow political ambitions,' the CM added. Adityanath said neither the Samajwadi Party nor the RJD had made any statement or social media post on 'Constitution Murder Day.' Senior leaders of these parties once opposed Congress for strangling the Constitution and protested against Congress' dictatorship. Today, those same leaders are bowing before the Congress for their interests,' he alleged. 'Dynastic parties like Congress, SP, and RJD have no right to talk about the Constitution because whenever they got a chance, they suppressed democracy,' he added. Adityanath said the Congress didn't waste a moment in dismantling the Constitution Ambedkar drafted after immense personal sacrifice. 'On June 25, 1975, Congress took over the legislature, executive, and judiciary. Media was muzzled through censorship, and more than one lakh pro-democracy activists were jailed,' he added. Recalling a slogan by revolutionaries — 'Tera Vaibhav Amar Rahe Maa, hum din char rahen na rahen' (May your glory live forever, Mother India, even if we live only a few days), he said the Congress shattered this resolve with its slogan, 'Meri satta bani rahe, chahe loktantra rahe na rahe' (let my power last, even if democracy doesn't)'. The CM also pointed out that keeping Babasaheb Ambedkar away from Parliament in 1952, declaring the Emergency in 1975, the 1984 massacre of Sikhs and Rahul Gandhi tearing up an ordinance in 2013 were all 'anti-democratic acts'. Earlier, Yogi Adityanath inaugurated an exhibition titled, 'Tragedy of the Emergency'.' During the programme, he honoured 26 democracy fighters.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Constitution Alone is Supreme, Not Parliament, Executive, or Judiciary: CJI Gavai
Nagpur: Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai on Wednesday offered a deeply personal, emotional, and reflective address in Amravati, recounting his journey from modest beginnings to the country's highest judicial office. "Neither parliament, nor the executive, nor the judiciary is supreme. The Constitution of India alone is supreme, and the judges of higher judiciary are its custodians," he said, reiterating his judicial philosophy grounded in constitutional values, while replying to a grand felicitation by the Amravati District Bar Association, at Swami Vivekanand Auditorium on Wednesday evening. Justice Gavai spoke of the heavy responsibility that judges bear, reminding that, "A judge can never be guided by what people feel about his judgment. He is expected to decide according to the Constitution, the law, and his conscience." Emphasising the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, he added, "In every decision, I have tried to uphold the values of social justice, equality, fraternity, and constitutional morality. " Reflecting on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the zudpi jungle issue of Vidarbha, Gavai called it a matter of shelter and livelihood rights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Describing his early life, Gavai recalled growing up in a small home with 10-15 family members and how his mother and aunts managed household duties under difficult circumstances. "My grandparents, my mother, my father — they all shaped my understanding of people's problems," he said, adding that he never initially intended to pursue law, having aspired to become an architect. He credited his father, late RS Gavai — former Governor of Bihar and Kerala, and a staunch Ambedkarite — for influencing his decision to enter the legal profession. "When my father was taking his LLB exams, he went to jail over a satyagraha, and could never give the exam. He then dedicated his life to public service. It was he who insisted I become a lawyer," Gavai recalled. He acknowledged the early struggles of his legal career. "I wasn't sure if I would succeed. Many seniors and others stood by me when I needed them the most," he said. He narrated how, when offered judgeship in 2001, he wrestled with the decision for nearly two years. "My father told me, if you become a Supreme Court lawyer, you may earn bounty. But if you become a judge, you can help realise Dr Ambedkar's dream of equality. I'm glad I listened to him." The CJI expressed heartfelt gratitude to his extended family, acknowledging their unwavering support. He thanked his wife and recalled how tough judicial life can be despite the appearance of ease. "People see the red light car, not the 15–16 hours of daily work. A judge must stay true to the Constitution and never be swayed," he said.