127th Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former MLC Vikramaditya Singh along with Ajatshatru Singh, senior BJP leader and former minister and his son, Ranvijay Singh felicitated Rajan Singh Happy, President Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS) for playing key role in sanction of a holiday on September 23, every year, the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
The YRS President was honoured by presenting a portrait of the Maharaja during a glittering function organized in connection with the 127th Birth Anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh here on Thursday at Amar Mahal.
Addressing the gathering, Vikramaditya Singh gave whole credit to the holiday of Maharaja to Yuva Rajput Sabha.
He termed it as a youth movement in Jammu as the Sabha members mobilized people over the issue by visiting village after village and imparting awareness about the significance of holiday of Maharaja Hari Singh and mounted pressure on the government to cede to the demand of the entire Union Territory.
While paying tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, Vikramaditya Singh threw light on the reforms taken by the great Monarch during his regime.
He recalled that the Maharaja ensured free and compulsory girl education, widow remarriage, flood control channel, irrigation canal, environment and forest protection laws, local handicraft promotion, sericulture, protection to small traders, etc.
“Besides J&K Bank and erstwhile J&K High Court were also started during the regime of Maharaja Hari Singh”, he added.
The former MLC said that Maharaja Hari Singh during his coronation in 1926 had said that justice is his religion, and during his life he proved this assertion through his deeds which were impartial and exemplary.
Vikramaditya said that people of J&K should continue to spread awareness about the rich cultural legacy of the erstwhile state of J&K through all possible means because this will help them to connect with the soil and the heritage of this great Duggarland which always stood for justice and secular credentials.
He said that the next goal of people should be complete eradication of drugs and demanded establishment of drug de addiction centres across the union territory.
Vikramaditya Singh also thanked PM Narendra Modi and LG Manoj Sinha for announcing the holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh. He also remembered Late B S Slathia, former President Bar Association Jammu for his significant role in raising voice for holiday on Maharaja’s birthday. He thanked the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bar Association, and other social and political organizations for their support to Yuva Rajput Sabha that led to the success of this struggle for holiday on September 23. He also thanked the media fraternity for unconditional support to the cause of the people of J&K.
During the function, various local artists including Slathia Brothers presented melodious Dogri songs narrating the life and achievements of Maharaja Hari Singh. The youth present in the audience enjoyed the cultural bonanza and danced to the deeds of songs presented by Dogri artists.
The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Surinder Sagar.
