A LEADER WHO NEVER DIES

V.P.Singh, the ex-Prime Minister of India, is no more with us.Till he breathed out his last, he was a spirited leader the country has ever seen.He had more feathers to his cap.The active role he played in the Congress Ministry, headed by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, especially in the Finance Portfolio, where he was a nightmare for tax-evaders and unethical corporates. But his stint was short lived and he was shifted to the Defence Ministry.

The remarkable achievement during his tenure as the Prime Minister, was the audacious step in accepting and implementing the recommendation of the Mandal Commission providing reservation for O.B.Cs in Central Government Jobs.Nearly for four decades the backward class people, who constituted more than 50% of the Indian Population, had been meted out a raw deal vis-a-vis SCs and STs, in Government jobs in the Union Government. The historic injustice was remedied and as a result the Hindutva and Brahminical forces came out in the open and staged protests, that culminated in toppling the V.P.Singh Ministry.

He never resented and gave up his dispensation for Social justice, knowing well that such a bold step would cost his Ministry.He was a principled leader, who never compromised on values and good governance.He never intended to stay in power for narrow political ends.

Another initiative he took was to re-open the Lokpal Bill, that was put in a cold storage first during Madame Indira Gandhi's Rule at the Centre and later could not scrape through owing to the fall of the Janata Combine at the Centre.

At this juncture, we shall not forget the history that the Mandal's Report also shelved by her as was done by the Late Charismatic Prime Minister Mr. Nehru. On both these counts Singh stood tall and rectified the historic blunders.

Yet he could succeed only in the reservation plank, but the Lok pal Bill was improved on his suggestion to include in its ambit the post of Prime Minister of India also for trial in the alleged cases of Corruption. Alas! this Bill got lapsed along with the topple of his Ministry, engineered by defectors and with the dissolution of the Lok sabha.

Further, his forthright approach and long vision in withdrawing the Indian Peace-Keeping Force from Sri Lanka, thus forcing an end to the widespread criticism of Human Rights violation reported against the Indian army by the Amnesty International and others, are still green in our memory and stay as an eye opener for the Policy makers and diplomats in our Country.

Death is certain and inevitable. Few leaders in our Country are self- sacrificing, and the 'Maharaja' is certainly the leader, who made a difference and stood always in the forefront of struggles, and identified with the oppressed and suppressed Indians.

We salute the Hero of Social Justice!

Cherish his ideals forever!

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