Economic and social freedom yet to be achieved: Mrs Kumar

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, JAN 30

 Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs Meira Kumar has said that the country has achieved political freedom, but a lot is yet  to be done for economic and social freedom. Mrs Meira Kumar was delivering Third Ch. Ranbir Singh Memorial Lecture at Mahrishi Dayanad University in Rohtak today.  

Mrs. Kumar said that after attaining independence, there were three points before the country- Political Independence, Economic Independence and Social Independence. Politically, country is free today, but economically we see a large gap between the incomes. There are few persons, who are very rich and on the other hand there are lakhs and crores of persons, who live from hand to mouth. Socially, the caste system, untouchability, feeling of high and low have divided our society, besides a number of other social evils. To realise the dreams of our freedom fighters, we have to build a society free from such discriminatory aspects.

                   Thanking Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Hooda for inviting her to deliver Third Ch. Ranbir Singh Memorial lecture, Mrs. Kumar said that Mr. Ranbir Singh was a a man of values. He had full faith in the ideals of truth, love and non-violence as propagated by Gandhiji. Just at the age of 15 years, he jumped into the freedom struggle on the call of Mahatma Gandhi. He went to jail and was the last person to be released from the jail, after India had got freedom. Soon after, he was made member of the Constituent Assembly  where he played an important role.

                   Talking about the Parliamentary system of democracy in the country, Mrs. Kumar said our Constitution is very unique in the sense that it has empowered the weakest among the week in the society with the power of vote and those who are wealthy and strong come to him every five years with folded hands begging for his vote in their favour. His right decision of voting can give new direction to the politics in the country. She was very elated while mentioning that in our country, the poor, particularly women in some parts of the country celebrate election day as a day of festival by wearing new clothes and going to polling booths singing all the way. The people of other countries are amazed to see how more than 70 crore people vote in the elections in India.

                   Paying her tributes to Ch. Ranbir Singh Hooda, Mrs. Kumar said that in December 1985, when she went to Parliament for the first time as M.P., Ch. Ranbir Singh blessed her by placing his hand over her head. It was his hand of blessing that has guided my way to success and like Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, I also revere him as a fatherly figure.

                   Mrs. Kumar called upon the students and the children present in Tagore Auditorium of the university to work hard during studies. “Yours parents have given a golden chance to you for studying and before doing anything else you should always think as to what you can do for your parents”, she said.

                   Earlier, welcoming Mrs. Meira kumar, Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Hooda said that today it is a historic day for us, that we have amidst us a personality like Mrs. Meira Kumar on a day, when we are remembering Gandhiji also on his martyrdom day. “My father Ch. Ranbir Singh was a Member of Parliament, when illustrious father of Mrs. Kumar, Babu Jagjivan Ram was there. My father used to tell me that he always got blessings from Babu Jagjivan Ram, who was a man of strong convictions. Today Mrs. Kumar, as Speaker Lok Sabha, is trying to take all the members of House with her. She left her high profile job to serve the country”, he added. About Ch. Ranbir Singh Mr. Hooda said that personally, socially and politically, he was an ideal person. His thinking was always positive and constructive even towards his opponents. In the Constituent Assembly, he raised the voice for the poor, the backward and the farmers. He was like a God to me and I always revered him and sought his guidance. He remained member of seven different Houses, which is a unique achievement of his life. He remained in eight jails, out of which four are now in Pakistan and four in India. It was during his time as Irrigation Minister of Punjab that the work of Bhakra Dam was accomplished.

                   Earlier Vice Chancellor of Mahrishi dayanand University Dr. R.P. Hooda thanked Mrs. Meira Kumar for accepting the request to deliver Third Ch. Ranbir Singh Memorial Lecture. About Haryana’s progress, he said that the state has progressed in every field under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

                   Mrs Meira Kumar also inaugurated Abhilasha - Kasturba Gandhi Women Hostel Complex, and Swaraj Bhawan in the premises of the university. She also unveiled the statue of Ch. Ranbir Singh at Swaraj Bhawan. She also went around the Photo Gallery   and was very happy to see the photos of Ch. Ranbir Singh with the leaders of yesteryears like Dr. Rajender Prasad, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mrs  Indira Gandhi, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Babu Jagjivan Ram and others. 

          Those present on this occasion included Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Minister Mrs. Geeta Bhukal, MPs Mr Shadi Lal Batra and  Mr Deepender Singh Hooda, MLAs Mr. Bharat Bhushan Batra, Shakuntla Khatak, Aftab Ahmad, Mr Kishan Hooda, former Minister Mrs. Prasanni Devi,  Dean Mr. R. Vinayak, and the family members of Chief Minister and others prominent personalities of the area.