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Call to focus on progress, sink political differences

Staff Correspondent

Former Chief Ministers honoured at golden jubilee function

Photo: A.M. Faruqui

Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar and Chief Minister Babulal Gaur felicitating former Chief Minister and Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh as part of the 50th foundation day celebrations in Bhopal on Thursday on the occasion of 50th foundation day celebration of Madhya Pradesh. Looking on is former Chief Minister Shyamacharan Shukla.

BHOPAL: Former Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh who were honoured at a special function held here on Thursday evening to mark the start of the golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of the State were unanimous in asserting that leaders and workers of all political parties should put aside their ideological differences and work together for the common man's progress and all-round development.

Speaking on this occasion, Union Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun Singh, said all political parties face a huge challenge in this era of globalisation at a time when the yardstick of progress and politics has completely changed. He described present-day politics as "politics without patience" and said the root cause of most of the problems is that the people want to instantly achieve or acquire all that they aspire for.

He said without any biased frame of reference, all political parties should address and try to solve the problems confronting the people. Mr. Singh said he had tried to win the confidence of all sections of people when he was at the helm of affairs in the State and it was only after ensuring a two-third majority for his party in the Assembly elections that he took up responsibilities at another level.

Former Chief Minister and in-charge of the State unit Bharatiya Janata Party, Kailash Joshi, said that Madhya Pradesh has lagged behind many other States on the development front due to change of leadership in quick succession in the initial stages, delay in fixing of priorities, and marathon efforts to bring about emotional unity among the people who came together from different areas after the formation of Madhya Pradesh.

Former Chief Minister, Sunderlal Patwa, expressed concern over the widening gap between the people on regional, caste and religious lines. He said political workers should never be content with progress. However, he had a word of caution for them and said that instead of working for themselves, they should work for the development and progress of the State and the nation.

He appreciated the polarisation of politics between the Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh and said it was his desire that the same trend should emerge across the country.

Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Motilal Vora, said all progress has been achieved in this country after Independence. He said development is a continuous process and added that the Chief Ministers only play their role. It is only the common man's development that truly reflects all round progress, he asserted.

Former Chief Minister, Shyama Charan Shukla said freedom fighters, who were in politics as well as administration, had played a unique role in the development of the reorganised State of Madhya Pradesh. He regretted that the State has now been divided and is no longer the largest in the country. He described Madhya Pradesh as the sacred land of the Narmada.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Babulal Gaur said former Chief Ministers, Digvijay Singh and Uma Bharti, could not be present due to unavoidable circumstances. He gave full credit to the Union Ministers for extending total cooperation for the development of the State. Citing their example he said all should rise above party lines and work for development. He also announced a Rs. 1 lakh award for Archaeology to commemorate the memory of late Padmashri Vakankar.

The Governor, Balram Jakhar, said that Mr. Gaur has set a good example by organizing this event. He described the State as the "land of devas (Gods)" and said that the holy Narmada and Kshipra flow through this State. He praised the people of Madhya Pradesh saying he never felt like an outsider here.

The function began with the presentation of the Mahatma Gandhi Award 2005-2006 to Deendayal Shodh Sansthan, Chitrakoot. A set of books especially published to mark the golden jubilee celebrations were also released.

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