President, PM, Sonia felicitate Balram Jakhar on 85th birthday

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today felicitated former Lok Sabha Speaker and Agriculture Minister D Balram Jakhar on his 85th birthday.

Mrs Patil released a book, Abhinandan Granth -- Kalpa Vriksha, written in honour of Dr Jakhar, describing him as a towering personality, known to be a man of principles and as an outstanding leader, whose contribution to Parliament and commitment to the welfare of the farming community in particular are well known.

Dr Jakhar's diplomacy was not limited only to the House. It was during his tenure that the Parliament developed strong ties of cooperation with other national Parliaments and also with international parliamentary bodies, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Parliamentary Union.

This enhanced the profile of the Indian Parliament and the country as a whole in the global arena, she said.

The Prime Minister said Dr Jakhar is one of our tallest leaders in public life in more senses than one. He has long been admired for his deep and sincere commitment to the cause of the Indian farmer.

He is a scholar, a first rate administrator, a farmers' leader and above all a deeply secular and patriotic Indian.

''Jakharji has been described by his admirers as Pandit Balram Jakhar because of his deep knowledge of agriculture. It is not often that one encounters a person with varied talents in the world of politics. It is a measure of his commitment to public life and to the world of ideas that he has been able to combine both,'' Dr Singh said.

The function held at the Balayogi auditorium in the Parliament complex was attended among others by Ms Gandhi, former Prime Minister I K Gujral and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

UNI