Nitish Kumar's govt to honour participants of JP movement

Patna, Apr 30 (UNI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state would accord 'honour' to the participants of the '1974-77 JP movement', launched by socialist leader Jai Prakash Narain, by providing monthly pension and other benefits.

Speaking to newspersons here, he described the movement as the second freedom struggle.

Mr Kumar told the media that the state had constituted a four-member ministerial group to finalise the modalities and elgibility criteria for provding benefits to the leaders and workers of the JP movement. He said the committee would be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi while excise minister Sudha Srivastav, Urban Development Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and agriculture minister Narendra Singh would be its other members.

''JP movement brought about a remarkable change in the country which was launched for total reforms in all sectors, including the re-establishment of politics, based on democratic aspirations of the people,'' the Chief Minister said, adding that there was nothing wrong in honouring those who participated in the movement and faced the brunt of the erstwhile regime.

In an oblique reference to the hue and cry raised by some political parties on the government's decision in this regard, Mr Kumar said that leaders, who had participated in the JP movement, were from different political parties and some of them were holding very important position in the state and at the Centre.

He exhorted all the leaders to support the state government's initiative.

UNI