The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new forum is born

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 06, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A new forum is born

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 5. Aimed at reviving the ideology and principles of the former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, leaders of various political parties along with a large number of freedom-fighters, youths, students, academicians and social workers today gathered in the Capital to mark the launch of a non-political platform -- Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Forum -- to find solutions to the problems being faced by farmers and youth of the country.

Taking pledge to follow the path shown by Mr. Shastri and launch a national movement to bring in a sense of national pride among Indians as envisaged by the former Prime Minister, leaders said when the nation was being plagued by moral, social, political, cultural and ethical degradation, the need of the hour was to follow the ideals of a simple and mass leader like Mr. Shastri in order to save the national pride.

Speakers at the function said farmers and youth, who form the backbone of India, were facing numerous problems and all their issues had gone unheard so far. "Unless farmers, who form over 70 per cent our population and youth who are India's future are happy and prosperous, India cannot become a developed nation and a superpower. Mr. Shastri understood this fact and emphasised this through his famous slogan - "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan''. The time had come to revive the spirit behind this slogan and fight all ills that are affecting our society," they asserted.

Elaborating the need behind the Forum's formation, Sunil Shastri, son of Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Forum's president, said the organisation would raise all types of problems being faced by the society and start a dialogue to find their solutions. The Forum would bring people from all sections of the society together to debate and give direction to society, leaders and others. All sections of the society were working in a non-aligned way and there was a need to bring in a sense of binding which was a must for national unity and prosperity.

Stating that the Forum would also launch year long birth centenary celebrations of the former Prime Minister, starting October 2, Mr. Shastri said his father's life was a role model for the youth.

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