Chhotu Ram struggled for farmers, poor: Dev Vrat

Our Correspondent

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Kaithal, April 8

Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat said here today that Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram was a leader of all communities and he struggled for the uplift of farmers, labourers and poor.

The Governor was speaking at a sadbhawana sammelan organised by the Chhotu Ram Vichar Manch at Maharaja Aggarsain Bhawan (Hanuman Vatika) after unveiling a statute of Chhotu Ram along with Union Steel Minister Birender Singh here today. He said Chhotu Ram was a great social reformer and showed the right path to society. He raised his voice against the system under which lands of farmers, who failed to repay loans, were assumed.

The Governor said Chhotu Ram always wanted all communities to live in peace. He exhorted people to strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and raise their voice and boycott those who were trying to disturb peace in society. He asked farmers to adopt organic farming to increase their production and gave some tips to produce crops without using fertilisers and pesticides.

Birender Singh said Chhotu Ram taught farmers to fight for their rights and raise their voice against social and economic exploitation. He expressed concern over widening disparity between rich and poor. He said it was strange that only one per cent of rich people controlled 57 per cent of the wealth of the country. Time has come for efforts to bridge this gap for a justified social order, he added.

The Union minister said diminishing landholdings was a big challenge for those dependent on farming. Parents, especially in villages, should ensure good education to their children so that they could compete in life and get good jobs. Chief parliamentary Secretary Bakhsheesh Singh Virk also lauded the contribution of Chhotu Ram to society.

Chaand Singh, state president of the Chhotu Ram Vichar Manch, BJP leader Rao Surinder Singh, Randhir Golan and Surinder Dhull also spoke. Guhla MLA Kulwant Bajigar, Zila Parishad chairperson Sukhvinder Kaur, Ranbir Fauji and Dharam Pal Chhot were present on this occasion.