The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Chandra Shekhar's contribution to democracy hailed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chandra Shekhar's contribution to democracy hailed

Special Correspondent

Leaders favour floating of outfit to implement his ideals

BANGALORE: Leaders cutting across political affiliations on Monday praised the value-based politics preached and practised by the former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and his contributions to democracy and party politics in the country.

The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Janata Dal (Secular) State unit President M.P. Prakash, former Minister P.G.R. Sindhia, Congress MLA V. Somanna, Bharatiya Janata Party MLC Mukyamantri Chandru and the former Chairman of the Legislative Council B.L. Shanker of the Congress stressed the need for a political outfit to implement the ideals practised by Mr. Chandra Shekhar.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who inaugurated 80th birthday celebrations of Mr. Chandra Shekhar, said the Janata Party split into several entities owing to personality clashes among the national-level leaders. The Janata Party, which was formed to fight the Emergency imposed by the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was ideologically committed to the welfare of the people. Mr. Chandra Shekhar was its first president. But ego and personality clashes led to frequent splits.

Mr. Sindhia said Mr. Chandra Shekhar fought for internal democracy in the Congress in the late 1960s as a member of the "Young Turks" group. He embarked on the Bharat Yatra in 1983 to create awareness about misrule of the Congress. Money and caste had become major factors for survival of political parties and to fight elections. Mr. Sindhia released "Nanna Hejje Guruthugalu" a biography of Mr. Chandra Shekhar written by Mangaluru Vijaya.

The Bharat Yatra Kendra had organised the function.

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