Centre to set up memorial for Jayaprakash Narayan in poll-bound Bihar

New Delhi: On the eve of 40th anniversary of imposition of the Emergency, government on Wednesday decided to set up a national memorial for socialist icon JayaPrakash Narayan in his birthplace in Bihar where assembly polls are likely this September-October.

Announcing a number of decisions of the government to honour JP, who had spearheaded the fight against the Emergency, Home Minister Rajnath Singh recalled how democratic institutions were "muzzled" during the Emergency as he lauded the contribution of the socialist leader in uniting the country against the "black chapter" of Indian history.

Singh at the same time rejected contentions that the decision on Jayaprakash Narayan is aimed reaping political dividends in Bihar polls, saying that honouring the contributions made by such great persons and icons should not be seen from the prism of politics.

"This should not be linked with political gains or losses," the Home Minister insisted.

BJP is facing a tough electoral battle in Bihar after the coming together of arch rival Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar.

Briefing the media along with Singh, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who hails from Bihar and had participated in the JP movement, targetted those who "did nothing" for the socialist leader in the last 10 years despite being associated with the leader, a dig aimed at Prasad and Kumar who emerged in the political arena from the JP movement.

Calling himself a "soldier of the JP movement," Prasad said it was "an emotional moment" for him and recalled that it was the government led by NDA's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which gave Bharat Ratna to JP and also organized Jayaprakash Narayan centenary year in 2002.

Ás per the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, which was approved by the Cabinet, a national memorial will be set up at Lala Ka Tola, Sitab, Diara, in Chhapra district in Bihar, the birth place of Jayaprakash Narayan.

The memorial will also house a virtual museum and an institute to undertake study and research on democracy, enhancing the role of panchayats in nation-building, Gandhian thoughts and centre for Khadi and constructive work keeping in view the thoughts of Jayaprakash Narayan.

Lok Nayak Khadi Gaurav Samvardhan Kendra will also be set up at the same place for making national flags by women clusters.