Ansari Releases book on Feroze Gandhi

New Delhi, Aug 25 (UNI) Vice-President Hamid Ansari today released a book titled 'Feroze Gandhi' vividly describing the various aspects of late Feroze Gandhi's life.

The book, authored by veteran freedom fighter Shashi Bhushan, illustrates the manner in which Gandhi launched struggle inside Parliament for nationalisation of banks, abolition of privy-purses and the attainment of other progressive targets, put forth the convincing arguments in support of nationalisation of Life Insurance Corporation, TELCO, and other financial institutions and against feudalism by starting the movement outside Parliament proved to be a beacon of light for other Parliamentarians.

The book is based on the facts gathered from available record of speeches made by him in Parliament and information received from his friends, relatives and colleagues.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President said, "Today's book resurrects a name from the past. This should not merely be an exercise in nostalgia even though it is permissible in the case of a public figure of yesteryear who was a freedom fighter, editor of a newspaper that played a role in the freedom struggle, a crusader for public causes, and a parliamentarian of eminence.

''The present generation of Indians knows precariously little of these. For this reason alone, Shashi Bhushanji has done a great public service by drawing attention to Feroze Gandhi's role in the early years of the Republic.'' He said the ideological debate initiated by Gandhi on the role of the state in the economy and the role of parliament in scrutinising executive action more than four decades ago was still relevannt.

''The ideological debate has not disappeared; instead, it has developed new dimensions. The controversy over the SEZs makes this evident. The problems it has highlighted cannot be brushed aside, they need to be addressed. Equally relevant is Gandhi's approach to the role of parliament, the Vice-President said.

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