Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: Lala Lajpat Rai, an undaunted hero of the freedom movement, was paid rich homage today on his 150th birth anniversary.
On the occasion, the political leaders, members of the civil society and non-political organizations hailed the proclamation made by Prof Bhim Singh declaring Lala Lajpat Rai as Mahabharat Ratan.
Prof Bhim Singh, chief patron of National Panthers Party, had announced 20 Mahabharat Ratans on the 117th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose.
Prof Bhim Singh said that 43 Bharat Ratans were declared by the Central Government ignoring those who had fought for the freedom of the country and died for the freedom of the country. He said this was in response and wishes of 1.20 billion people of the country that these 20 heroes who were the greatest martyrs have been declared as Mahabharat Ratans.
Lala Lajpat Rai while leading a protest against the Simon Commission and denouncing Jallianwala massacre, was lathicharged and killed by British police on November 17, 1928. He was elected as a president of Indian National Congress in 1920 yet the Congress did not care to shower the real honour on these great Mahabharat Ratans, Prof Singh said.
The prominent among those who participated in the programme, included Rajiv Jolly Khosla, Sukhwinder Singh Siddhu, Dildar Hussain (president, Rashtriya Muslim Ekta Manch), Sushil Khanna (Bhim Brigade), Manmohan Singh Bedi, Kishore Sharma, Gyan Singh Gyan, Rohit Singh, Advocate D Vidyanandam, Asma and others.